The L&HR had a microphone at a spot between Andover and Belvidere, called "the tin man." When the dispatcher wanted to know where his train was, he would call the tin man on his selector. When the train passed, he would hear it. Philip Martin martinpl3_@_earthlink.net Why Wait? Move to EarthLink. > [Original Message] > From: David J. Monte Verde <dmvgvt_@_earthlink.net> > To: erielack <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net> > Cc: CDMV <drums3386_@_yahoo.com> > Date: 1/25/2004 6:22:11 PM > Subject: (erielack) Railroad Telegraphy. > > The west end (Buffalo Div.) of the Lackawanna had a open line block phone and each station would "OS trains to the dispatcher in Buffalo. As a kid I used to sit in the Dansville office and listen as each Agent-Operator along the line would report xtra 604-C by Bath at 6:54, Cohocton, Wayland and then you would know in a few minutes the train would be rolling down Dansville Hill. There was CTC passing sidings at B&O Jct., Groveland, Wayland, and Bath, but the line had automatics in between, so the agent operators provide a progress record for the dispatcher. > > Each station had a telegraph key and sounder (Dansville's resides in my collection) and when the Dispatcher would want to call a station or station to station they would use the telegraph to call the agent-operator. It has been said that an operator could sleep through and telegraph chatter and wake up when his telegraph letters were called. There is a complete listing of telegraph call letters for the Buffalo Division I posted on Elwood's list a few years back. > > Regards David MV ------------------------------
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