The last bastion of Morse code was/is amateur radio, but now that the FCC
has abolished a code requirement for all license classes, the number of hams
able to send and receive Morse code will dwindle away with time. Aside from
a few old timers from the railroad or the Navy that like to rag chew in CW
at 40 wpm, the only remaining code enthusiasts are DX'ers (hams that like to
work rare and exotic locations) and contesters (hams that want to work as
many stations as possible as fast as possible during a prescribed contest
period). If you've seen my email address, you'll see that my amateur radio
callsign is KU0A, and yes, I work CW.
Nelson
-----Original Message-----
From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CBQ@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
morrowjay
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 2:32 PM
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CBQ] Re: FW: Morse Code: A Lost Language
In the late 1960's I was a telegraph operator on the Ft. Worth and Denver
during the summers between college semesters. I much preferred the company
phone, but could use telegraph if I needed to. At that time it was part of
the job requirement.
Only a few small freight-only branchline depots did not have telegraph and
company phone. Those were the standard communication tools. The telephone
had a "push-to-talk" foot pedal. The same telegraph circuits were common to
all depots. There were no secrets!
Three of my most prized possessions now are the original telegraph key,
sounder and company phone from the Lubbock, TX depot.
Jay
--- In CBQ@yahoogroups.com, Jpslhedgpeth@... wrote:
>
>
> Gerald et al
>
> I seem to remember that 1972 was the last year for telegraph on the Q..but
I can't point to any particular reference...IIRC the Rock Island quit the
telegraph in1965.
>
> Coincidentally I've been reading through some of my od RR Magazines and
have recently read some of Palmer's stuff in the 1941 and 42 issues.
>
> When I was braking on the Q 1956-58 the branch lines in Nebraska were all
telegraph and the mainlines had both telegraph and telephone communication.
>
> All of the old head agent-operators were telegraphers..Most of those guys
were 1900-1920 seniority and used mostly the key and sounder.
>
> Some new agents-operators were coming on and most could telegraph a bit
but didn't like to use the key in preference to the phone.
>
> There was a young telegrapher who worked on the Lincoln-Ravenna line as an
extra operator...It was said of "Arch".. "The only thing Arch can use the
key for is to send....FN. ie...."get on the phone"
>
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