Re: (erielack) Radios & Speedometers

[Steven Kay <s.kay4_@_verizon.net>]

Len, 
Until very recently the territory between Summit and Denville was "dark" to
the Dispatcher (I think it changed when Baker Interlocking was put in). Once
a train departed Summit Dispatcher didn't know where it was until it hit the
bell at Denville. Again, a little unnerving when things were going badly and
there were five or more trains between Summit and Denville and we (M&E) had
to cross over and clear up at Baker. More than once the Dispatcher would
give us permission to cross over and we'd "dump" the signal on a westbound
approaching Morristown station.

Just as bad was the radio system under Transit when both the Hoboken and
Newark Divisions were on the same frequency. We'd be trying to get quick
permission on the the crossovers at Baker because we were just ahead of an
eastbound commuter train and we knew there was a westbound approaching only
to be buried buy the Coast Line Dispatcher given out a Form D to a coast
line train. It was a big help when the Feds finally gave Transit a new
frequency for the Newark Division.

Things are better now.
Steve
- -- 
Chauffeur to the masses
Www.ble272.org



On 4/23/05 11:16 AM, "Len VanderJagt" <lvj911_@_worldnet.att.net> wrote:

> It seems like a good time for a little experience-based input:
> 
> Putting a "Radio Equipped" decal on a loco was not sufficient, nor was leaving
> it there decades after the radio expired. The fact is, until the second
> generation units came along in the 60s, radio contact was an unexpected
> blessing.
> 
> In addition to bum radios and no radios, there were very many dead zones,
> ranging from along the Ramapo between Arden and close to SF, to anyplace that
> was 'down below and around the bend."
> 
> Trackside phone boxes were the primary link, along with tower operators. As
> stations and towers closed through the 50s and 60s, the 'dark' zones greatly
> increased.  The M&E dispatcher was completely in the dark - no model board or
> location indicators. Once South Orange tower closed in 66, a train dropping
> off Roseville Ave's board wasn't 'seen' until on the approach for Millburn,
> displayed in Summit tower. What was really a challenge, was the dark zone
> between Summit and Milburn interlocking in the a.m., with 3 scoots in it at a
> time, needing to be sorted onto tracks 1 & 3, while you dealt with the P&D
> shuffle, originating trains, crews registering, and the conversation of the
> moment with the signal maintainers. I loved it at 23 years old - there was a
> reason a day job went to somebody with 5 years seniority!
> 
> Anyhow, I digress. No radios. Hand up and yell messages to crews to tell so &
> so to call in if they see them down the line. Much waving of arms and blowing
> of whistle and flashing of headlight. It worked, but instant communication it
> was not.
> 
> Same deal on the Erie side- west of NJ tower, the West End dispatcher waited
> for the light at Howells to come on. And waited.
> 
> All diesel locos had speedometers, of course. All seasoned engineers knew
> their " points & pounds" on both the scoots and long-haul passenger trains.
> 
> Andy Barberra, God rest, took enormous pride in demonstrating this to me on #5
> across the cut-off, and #10 down the hill on our return.  One brake reduction,
> 'just so', for the wb cut-off.
> 
> Finally, you folks might want to try to set aside your relativistic sense of
> things for a moment.  All of these conditions were 'just how it was.'  It was
> railroading, and a challenge met every day with care and personal
> responsibility. Aside from the physical plant falling down around us due to
> lack of profits, there was simply a focus on getting the job done. Yes, it was
> far more dangrous, and that too was accepted. It wasn't better or worse than
> anything, it was different from how it became later. Not burdoned with what
> 'might be', 'could be' or 'ought to be', people got on with the job, and did
> it pretty well to boot. EL pride is not a myth- we got it done most of the
> time. 
> 
> Anyway, FWIW.
> 
> Len VanderJagt
> former EL towerman and extra train dispatcher, NY Division
> 
> The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
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