Leo et al
Now that said garden is spaded and some other unanticipated chores complete
here's the story on your orders. I'll take them from top to bottom as you
typed them in.
Train orders were regularly addressed to engineers and/or conductors rather
than trains themselves. Most of the old one's I've seen were addressed to just
the conductor. The small t Engr, I would assume means Train Engineer.
To "run wild" was, as Hol said the term at that time for "run extra"..the terms
are synonimous (sp). Run to Earl ahead of 58 would be a type of order later
known as a "run ahead" order. In most cases rules provided that
"...........extra trains may pass and run ahead of second and third class
trains and extra trains" (Rule 85 Rules effective Dec 1, 1929) No train order
was necessary for this to happen....
Rule 86 provided that ....."in non automatic block signal territory, unless
otherwise provided an infoerior train must be clear at the time a first class
train in the same direction is due to leave the next station in the rear where
time is shown". In the instant case the order relieved Yeckley of clearing
the time of #58 (which I assume is a first or second class train (ie a
superior train) which he would have had to do under the rules and in the
absence of said order. I read someplace that there was a rule which
prohibiited the following train (ie superior train) from exceeding the
authorized speed of the preceeding inferior train, but I can't cite the
reference off hand. In some cases in this situation the responsibility for a
rear ender fell on the following train
I can't be absolutely certain, but I believe that (13) was the telegraph
"alert" to the operator that the DS had a train order for him...ie...he was to
drop everything and answer the wire.
There are a couple of other, what we would call "oddball" orders used in the
"old days"...one was a "hold order"...it was issued to the operator at the
point where the train originated...It read simply "Hold No. 2".....Also there
was a form of "may go order"...it seemed to function as a type of clearance
although it seemed to be used in addition to the clearance form A. It would
read something like..."On receipt of Order No.s (list of orders applying to
said train) No. 2 may go. This type of order was still being used in 1911. If
you want to see an actual case involving this type of order go the the ICC
website year 1911 and read the account of a head on collision at Indianola, NE
in 1911.
I'm interested in your "make best possible time" in the 1950's and 60's....I
never saw or heard this one used...I have heard of "messages" reading something
like this, but with the addition of the words..."consistent with
safety"...Obviously if something happened it would not be "consistent with
safety" and the hog head would still be "hung out to dry"...along with the
conductor and possibly other crew members. Tell us more about this one.
If there are more questions just post and If I don't know the answer I'll make
one up.
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: qutlx1 <qutlx1@aol.com>
To: cbq <cbq@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sun, Apr 10, 2011 10:48 pm
Subject: [CBQ] 1880s Train Orders
Today I stopped at the estate sale of Evie Gorman,wife of Wade Gorman,who
was a longtime Aurora Division switchman,trainman and Condr. Among my
purchases was a group of train orders.Most are from the 1930s on the C&I which
make for interesting reading as this is pre CTC days.
But in the middle of the stack are orders from the 1880s. I will copy 2 of
them verbatim below. Are they saying what I think they are? was this
termed as "make best possible time" in the 50s and 60s ? It appears orders
were written directly to Engineers/Conductors and not always to trains.
1)Aurora 2/4/87
Yeckley, t Engr. Mendota
"run to (Streator or Sheridan) wild via East Sheridan Junction. Run to
Earl ahead of #58.
GA
OK GA
10:47PM R Young
2) Aurora 1/29/85
Yeckley T Engr.
Aurora
"run to Chicago wild"
OK GA
145 ET
Both orders have the following notation in a different hand writing "13
Yeckley".
There are two other 1885 orders that are more understandable to me,one is
directed to the operator at Riverside to hold #12. The other again to
Yeckley,T Engr at Downers Grove.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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