Whether CB&Q or other railroads, certain employees needed to have a RR-approved
watch as a condition of their employment. This would include operating crews,
supervisors & foremen of track crews, B&B etc and many officials. The RR's had
approved Watch Inspectors who you needed to have your watch checked by at least
annually (these were listed on Employee Tiemtables). Many RR employees would a
RR watch even if not req'd as it was a badge of honor. A so-called RR watch
met standards such as size, # of jewels (a measure of quality), amount of time
lost or gained in various positions (upright, etc). In later years there were
approved wrist watches including 'electronic' ones in addition to the old
stem-wound pocket watches.
NOTE: so-called 'Burlington' watches were a model made by the Illinois Watch
Co. and were coincidentally named the same as our favorite RR but were not
'CB&Q' watches. Various brands were accepted by the Burlington. Each RR had
its favorites. Also, some Employees would pay for a better watch than actually
needed as they were a symbol of ones status in an era when having a RR job was
something to brag about, especially Engineers, Conductors & Station Agents. A
top watch could amount to a week's pay if a man were so inclined. A fob could
be added with his Brotherhood or fraternal emblem and inscriptions made to the
case.
My Grandfather. Loren Lee Edgar being a Mechanical employee was not required to
have a "RR" watch but did, again out of pride. On the other hand my Uncle Ed
"smitty" Smith had one due his work as a Yardmaster & at one time as a
Trainmaster. Gerald
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