Year: 1878

How IA Railroad Oni~a.I Has 10 Run Cars


ON Paper.


Within the last few years the work Of
running railroads has been greatly sim
plifed. Now on every well regulated
railroad things move like clock work,
the machinery working without a jar
day in and day out. In the movement
of trains much depends on the train
dispatcher, who fills most responsible
and laborious position. The latter-day
train-lispatcher sits at headquarters,
and, with the aid eff curious chart, is
enabled to see at glance the exact
whereabouts of every train on the road
at any minute OF the day. He has the
entire line before him in miniature.
Dots and pegs Of different size and
shape indicate the different trains in
motion at the same time, and from the
chart and an elaborate timecsrd the
train. dispatcher is enabled 10 direct
operations by telegraph with rs much
intelligence and absolute knowledge As
he could possibly have were he ubiqui-
tous, and able to give oral commands in
a hundred different places at the same
time. The train. n.dispstcher is supposed
10 know and does know the size of each
train, freight and passenger, on his di-
vision, the speed and power of each
engine, the grade of every mile of the
road, aud where time can be made up TO
the best advantage when trains are de-
layed.


lie usually works with the superin-
tendent or manager of the road, though
frequently he is put in charge Of his
particular department, and held respon-
sible for the proper management OF the
duties assigned to him; being given a
great latitude and lett wholly unhsm-
pered, The train dispatcher keeps a
record of the time each train starts from
the end OF the division, and from that
moment until it arrives at its destination,
it is constantly under his eye and guild.
ance, like chessmen in the hands of a
skilliul player. So long as trains move
on time he is not called upon TO exercise
his ingenuity much. 1t is when train
is ditched, or meets other unavoidable
accidents, that the dispatcher shows up
to advantage.


Here he finds a field for the exercise
of his full powers. In such emergencies
the regular time card is of no earthly
account. and he is forced TO improvise
one for the occasion. He Is called upon
to decide which trains shall have the
right of way, where and how they shall
meet, where lie on the side track, and a
THOUSAND sul one other matters that
arise out of the emergency. On his
presence of mind and accuracy of knowl-
edge depend the lives Of hundis1s of
of trainmen and passengers, and thou
sands upon thousands of dollars worth
of property.


An illustration of his daily duties /:
Ten trains all off of time and running
by telegraphic orders issued by the train
dispatcher (such a thing not unfrequntly
harpens) put these trains on stretch Of
track sixty miles long, and designate
where the five going east will meet the
five going west. One of the five west.
bound is through passenger train with
no stops to make, and can run at a GER
tain rate OF speed another is local pas
senger, making,all stops, and can run ~ q
certain rate OF speed different from the
rest another is freight with light
load and another a freight with heavy
load. One has part OF the road to run
over where the grades are not heavy,
while another has large hills to climb.
All these things have TO be taken into
consideration, plans formed and executed
at once, and these trains started and kept
going without delay and without acci-
dent.


The trsin>dispatchers connected with
the indianapolis railroads handle daily
about $50 trains-on paper--s fact that
will enable the public to judge some>
thing OF the Importance Of the place
Indianapolis News.