What did a dispatcher's desk look like pre-CTC?

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Prolific poster 3,069 posts DKRickman Prolific poster 3,069 posts

DKRickman

I've seen plenty of CTC panels, and sat in with dispatchers using computer screens. What I haven't seen (as far as I can remember, anyway) is a dispatcher's desk from the train order days. I know the operators would have a telegraph (later a telephone), and I'm guessing the dispatcher would as well, but what else? Was there any sort of route map? Just a dig desk with plenty of cubbyholes and slots/drawers for various bits of paperwork? How did he keep track of which trains had authority on a given piece of track?

I ask because someday in the future I think it would be interesting to model the operation. Since my line had no signals, there's no need for any of the electronic gimmickry. But I would like to know how it "should" look and operate.

Ken Rickman

Danville & Western HO modeler and web historian

http://southern-railway.railfan.net/dw/

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slsfrr Regular poster 106 posts

slsfrr

Dispatcher Sheets

The dispatcher had a train sheet that he keep track of the movement of trains on. The sheet had all OS stations listed in the middle of the paper with east/north on one side and south/west on on the other side. As the train progressed the dispatcher would mark through the OS station. See:

http://www.multimodalways.org/archives/rrs/CR/CR%20Dispatcher%20Sheets/CR%20Dispatcher%20Sheets.html

Hope this helps.

Jerome OKC

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David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,782 posts

David Husman dave1905

Desk

It would be a big desk with a train sheet on it. A typical train sheet would be 18x36 inches, Some have been as large as 2x4 or 2x5 feet, green or manila 60-100 lb paper stock. There would be a train order book, a general line-up book, a timetable and a general order book. Probably a book on engine ratings. There there would be turnovers, messages, cheat sheets, train line ups, lists of tonnage to move. There would be an inkwell and ink pens. A standard clock would be on the wall.

Dave Husman

Visit my website : https://wnbranch.com/

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