The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-20
FOR A SPECIAL TRAIN
Quick Action Is Necessary When
One Is Ordered.
WORK OF THE DISPATCHER.
This Official Has a Complicated Task
In Putting the Special Through
Without Interfering With the Run
nira lime Of Other Fast Trains.

This Official Has a Complicated Task
In Putting the Special Through
Without Interfering With the Run
nirq Time Of Other Fast Trains.
Suppose you wished to take special
trip to any place on the map and the
hour of your sudden resolution was 2
a. m. The chances are against know
ing how to make this mastery move
at such an unearthly hour, to say moth
ing of knowing how to go about it
during the hours OF business. 1t is
easier than the INITIATED possibly may
believe. OF course the principal thing
is money, the thing that makes both
the mare and the special train go.
The train dispatcher is the official
who can start the train while his supe-
riors are asleep and when a wild eyed
man who has race against death to
make halfway across the continent
dashes into the station looking for
train that will make the distance on its
own schedule. What the chief dis
hatcher wants to be sure about is the
identity of the applicant for the I'M
usual privilege and In this connection
whether he is able to pay for spe-
cial
Five thousand dollars in bills will
make the dispatcher feel very much
like ordering out the train. A deposit
of that amount in his hands will IN
doubtedly bring the train out in few
minutes after the order is given. Some
times a call on the telephone to the
residence of a well known citizen VINO
says he will be responsible for the cost
of the train will answer the require
ments of the dispatcher, or the checs
of the applicant, If he is well known
citizen, is a sufficient guarantee. Il
can be made large enough to cover the
bill for the special
In the case of wealthy man VINO
will let nothing stand In the way o.
accomplishing his purpose the cost o.
the train is not previous considera
ton. He simply wants to get to Ger
tain point at a certain time. Getting
there on time is the uppermost though
| in his mind. He PAGES restlessly VI
and down the platform until the tran
backs into the station or on to the sid
ing where he is notified 1t may be wait
ing for him. Unless he sttpulates tina
private car be used In the train 81
| will get a Pullman all by himself o
those who accompany him. The use O
a private car costs more, but is pre-
ferred by the wealthy patron. Whel
everything is ready for embarking tn
work Of the dispatcher has just begun
This official must put the specia
through without interrupting seriousr
the running time Of other fast trains
II takes some ticklish work, for tn
other trains must be 'cut OUT on sid
tracks lust before the special Is Z
pass. In this way the schedules OF tn
other trains are not broken more tina
a few minutes. The special dashe
past on the right of way, and the regu
lar fast train follows it. Freight train
using the same track are apt to lie O.
the sidings longer than the passenger
because they cannot make distance
between sidings quick enough to Gu
out in time to give the special a clea
track.
The man who has paid his goo
money for the right to the track doe
not expect TO be stopped en- route, an
It becomes the business Of the railwa
or railways over which he Is racin
against time to afford him all the faci
tiles. Usually in case of such an e.
traordinary emergency the railwa
takes great pride in making recor
run and landing its patron at his de'
tination in time to accomplish his pul
pose. The best engineers obtainabl
and trustworthy conductor are pla'
ed in charge of the equipment OF on
engine and one car, for the running
at rate Of speed not undertaken
the passenger service.
Usually the extraordinary passenge
is required to give the railway con
many some form of release from n
sponsibility for loss Of life or inJur
from accident due to what might Q
regarded under ordinary circumstance
as a reckless speed, but the man wn
is racing to see loved wife or daugi
fer or son is always willing to take
greater risk than at any other time l
bis existence. But not only Is his ow
life. but the lives of the train crew,
jeopardy during wild race over To
rails However. on such an occasio
the whole crew is imbued with tn
excitement and heroic nature or tn
fast mission and contribute in ever
way to the fulfillment Of the GRAND.
Thousands of dollars have been pal
by private citizens for just such race
with death and sometimes where gres
financial crisis is at stake. The raj
way companies, despite the large hon
rarium received for undertaking sue
Journeys, are loath to accept a passel
ger on these conditions. The cris
must be one that involves remarkably
stress of mind and money. Usual
their acceptance of such great respol
sibility both to the single passenge
as well as thousands of others WI
may be using the tracks at the SAN
time is governed by a great deal
sentiment.-St. Louis Republic.
A Mystery.
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