The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-05-25
RAILROAD COMEDY
Methods Of Operation In 1852
Seem LaughabIe Today.
QUAINT RIGHT OF WAY RULES.

Trains Met Between Stations and .
Dispute Arose the Conductors Dseid-
ed Which Train Had 10 Back Down.
A most interesting exhibit OF TIE
early days OF rallroadiug In this coun-
try has been found by the Railroad
Age Gazette. Il j. schedule for pas
senger trains and rules for the conduct
II enginemen aud conductors ON the
Western aud Atlantic. which was NJ
the time and still is owned by tile
state OF Georgia. The table is dated
March !. ISL. aud was issued by WI
liam NJ. Wadiey. superintendent. IA
Their OF George ID. Wadlcy. the latter
for many years manager OF the Cen
trail Railroad OF Georgia.
The schedule shows picture Of an
engine and ears az the top. Under IL
the numbers and names OF the sta
tons. the times Tor arrival. the times
FOR departure aud the time taken 10
run between stations rs well as re-
marks about passing sidetracked
frcights are all carefully tabulated
In the rules Tor enginemen and con
ductors are many which seem quaint
in this age OF colossal railroadlng. 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 rs 10 which
train had the right to keep on its way
uninterrupted This rule says:
"AS general rule. when trains meet
between stations the train nearest the
turnout win run back. Any dlsppse as
TO which train is 10 retire is TO lie de-
termlned az once by the conductors
without interference on the part Of the
enginemen. This rule is required TO he
varied in favor OF the heaviest loaded
engine or worst grades II 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 withtheir calling. The
same rule indicated that the governor
OF the state and the general superin-
tendent OF the road were the only mdi-
viduals who had right TO give passes.
The conductor was ordered 10 in
spect the running gear OF his train at
every station and in rule 10 was ad-
monlshed never 10 leave Atlanta or
Chattanooga without the mail or with.
out first sending TO the postofiiee after
it. Rule II says that a train stopping
Mt 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.
Passenger trains were not to exceed
! the speed OF their schedule except
when behind time, In which case the
speed might he increased three miles
an hour generally. In passing turnouis
Ghe turnout evidently was the switch
L In Ao e., 10. Ii .ft.
ished to six miles an hour.
Rule G might be put in force today
with good effect and to the delight OF
n much jolted travelling public. II
| reads:
| in connecting and in starting Will
his train the engineman will be ex
ceedingly careful I'm the management
OK the throttle so that the cars may not
be injured or the passengers annoyed
by the sudden violence OF the start"
This paragraph is found ut the enc
OF the regulations for enginemen:
For any violation OF the abov,
rules. FOR running off at turnouts, foi
killing Of stock by daylight and for al
other Irregularities the general super
intendent will impose such fines as b,
deems just and called for by the ma
ture of the offense."
The freight trains took two days L
make the 131 miles between Atlant;
and Chattanooga. The stops at til,
stations varied from ten to sixty min
utes, One of the rules for freight con
ductors about keeping certain dis
lance from the trains ahead of hin
and behind him shows that there mus
have been delightful uncertaint,
about the provisions for changing
meeting points In case trains were de
layed 1t is evident that there was n,
telegraph communication along tn
line, although this was eight year
after Morse had demonstrated that b.
could send messages over the wir
from Washington to Baltimore. Sew
eral months before Charles Minot ais
had made use OF the telegraph Il
ordering the operation of trains on tn
Erie