The development of computers and their ability to generate switch lists
killed chalk marks. Spins could generate lists of each and every track which
could then simply be marked down a column as to which trk the car needed to
go to. For example at Eola once Compass/Spins got rolling if the YDMSTR
wanted to switch a trk(say 6 in the west yard) he would ask for a run of the
cars on the trk.Take the printout and right down one column the trk he wanted
each car to go to.No need to chalk the cars or for the foot soldiers to know
station numbers,etc. To get cars in station order you simply did the
following:UTLX 12345 6/4/6,for example. This meant(staying w/the example)
that when you pull trk six and come to this car throw it back on six.Then
when you pull the trk again and come to this car it goes to 4. Then when on 4
it goes back to six. Cuts w/in a pull were simply a horizontal line between
car numbers. (How do I remember this stuff 20 years after the fact so clearly
but can't sometimes come up w/the name of the guy in the office 50 ft down
the hall? Alzheimers?).Leo
|