Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1913-11-28
RAILROAD COMEDY
Methods Of Operation In 1852
Seem LaughabIe Today.
QUAINT RIGHT OF WAY RULES.

On the Western and Atlantic When
Trains Met Between Stations and
Dispute Arose the Conductors Deold-
ed Which Train Had TO Back Down.
most interesting exhibit of the
early days OF railroading in this coun-
try has been found by the Railroad
Age Gazette. II is schedule for pas
senger trains and rules for the conduct |
Of enginemen and conductors on the
Western and Atlantic. which was at |
the time and still Is owned by the
state OF Georgia. The table is dated
March /. 1852, and was issued by VIII
liam NJ. wadley. superintendent. IA
Their of George D. Wadley. the latter
for many years manager of the Cen
trail Railroad of Georgia.
The schedule shows picture OF an
engine and cars at the top. Under 1t
the numbers and names of the sta
ions. the times for arrival. the times
COR departure and the time taken to
run between stations as we'll as re-
marks about passing sdetracked
freights are all carefully tabulated.
In the rules for enginemen and con-
ductors are many which seem quaint
in this age of colossal railroading. or
course the road had only one track.
and rule IA for passenger conductors
shows that there must have been some
dispute when trains met as to which
train had the right to keep on its way
uninterrupted This rule says:
LAS general rule. when trains meet
between stations the train nearest the
turnout will run back. ANY dispute as
to which train Is TO retire is to be de-
termined at once by the conductors
without interference on the part Of the
enginemen. This rule is required to be
varied in favor of the heaviest loaded
engine or worst grades If they meet
near the center"
Rule gives the conductor directions
for reporting on the number OF passen-
gers who are paying and the number
OF ministers of the gospel who were to
be charged half price when on bust
ness connected with their calling. The
same rule indicated that the governor
Of the state and the general superin-
tendent of the road were the only indi-
yiduals who had right to give passes
The conductor was ordered to In
spect the running gear of his train at
every station and In rule 10 was ad-
monished never to leave Atlanta or
Chattanooga without the mail or with
out first sending to the postoffice after
Ii. Rule II says that train stopping
at any station at night must invariably
be run on the turnout SO as to leave
the main track clear, and that strict
watch had to be kept In all cases
where a train stopped at night.
In the regulations for passenger en-
ginemen there are a number which
seem almost humorous In this period
of railroad management For instance.
the engineman was instructed that II
his train killed any stock and threw
the COW or cows in such a position as
to endanger the safety of the next
train he was to stop his train and see
that the track was cleared.
Rule might be put IN force today
with good effect and to the delight of
much jolted travelling public. 1t
reads:
I'm connecting and in starting with
his train the engineman will be ex-
ceedingly careful in the management
of the throttle so that the cars may moi
be injured or the passengers annoyed
by the sudden violence Of the start"
This paragraph is found at the END
OF the regulations for enginemen:
For any violation of the above
rules. for running of at turnouts. fol
killing of stock by daylight and for al
other Irregularities the general super
Intendent will impose such fines as h'
deems just and called for by the ma
ture OF the offense."
The freight trains took two days T.
make the 1877 miles between Atlanti
and Chattanooga. The stops at tn
stations varied from ten to sixty min
utes. One OF the rules for freight con
nuctors about keeping a certain dis
lance from the trains ahead OF hin
and behind him shows that there mus
have been a delightful uncertaint,
about the provisions for changin
meeting points In case trains were dc
layed. 1t is evident that there was N
telegraph communication along th
line, although this was eight year
after Morse had demonstrated that b
could send messages over the wir
from Washington to Baltimore SCI
eral months before Charles Minot ais
had made use OF the telegraph
ordering the operation OF trains on tn
Erie.
I'll n. N.s.. Lao