Re: Train orders on the fly?

Posted by Rick Steele on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Train-orders-on-the-fly-tp5114p5117.html

In answer to your question Robert, Yes.

In reality, during the C&S Days, it would have been occasionally as freights were only run three days a week. During that time only about 7 depots on the entire South Park system had agents manning them.

Train Order wands were standard issue at all C&S Depots.

Heck, I even picked up orders on the fly when I first hired on for UP in 1978.

The agent would get a message to pass along on a Form 19 Train order and pass them to the crew via the order wands.

When the crew had to sign for a Form 31 Train Order, the paddle board (Train Order board) would be set to "Stop" and the Engineer and Conductor would have to sign for the train order when they received it.

This is why it was important to "roll by" every depot as they approached it for the possibility that there might be train orders waiting for them. Remember, there were no radios back them to warn them of a Train Order Pickup.

Rick