via E-Mail
For suggestion or comments contact Dan Reed via E-Mail
My collection of early railroad timetables includes one for the HOUSTON & TEXAS CENTRAL RAILWAY COMPANY and Operated Lines.
This is the line from Houston to Navasota, College Station, Bryan, Hearne, Corsicana, Ennis, Dallas, McKinney, Sherman, Denison, and terminating at Red River City four miles north of Denison.
Below are a sampling of what was covered:
Item # 2: CLASSIFICATION OF TRAINS -Schedule trains are classed as to priority as indicated in the Time Table. 1st Class Trains will have absolute right of track over 2nd and 3rd Class Trains and 2nd Class Trains will have absolute right of track over 3rd Class Trains, but will keep entirely out of the way of 1st ClassTrains. 3rd Class Trains will keep out of the way of both 1st and 2nd Class Trains. Conductors and Engineers will be governed entirely by this classification.
Rule # 1: Trains bound South have right of road indefinitely over Trains of the same class bound North.
Rule # 2: Trains bound East from Austin to Hempstead, have right of road indefinitely over Trains of the same class bound West from Hempstead to Austin. Trains bound East from Albany to Bremond have right of road indefinitely over Trains of the same class bound West from Bremond to Albany.
Rule # 3: Trains of an inferior class must keep entirely out of the way of Trains of a Superior Class bound in either direction.
Rule # 8: ALWAYS TAKE THE SAFE SIDE IN CASES OF THE LEAST UNCERTAINTY. (Seens like this one is still in the book.)
Rule # 11: Wood and Construction Trains will not occupy the main track later than 8:00 P.M. without special permission.
Rule # 12: Irregular Trains running under special telegraph orders, must run with great care. The whistle must be sounded at least 80 rods from all abrupt curves and obscure road crossings, and speed around curves must not exceed six (6) miles per hour. (80 rods = 1320 Feet.)
Rule # 17: Freight Trains must, in all cases, be kept entirely out of the way of Passenger Trains. At meeting points, Freight Trains must arrive at least ten (10) minutes before Passenger Trains are due.
Rule # 34: THE GREATEST RATE OF SPEED ALLOWED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IS AS FOLLOWS:
Rule # 42: A brakeman must always be stationed on the rear car when a train is in motion and the brakes of that car must be ascertained to be in order. Conductors must see that brakemen do not slide the wheels. Freight Conductors will not allow two brakemen to ride on the same car, but must be positioned to handle brakes in case of accident.
(Remember, in 1883 they had no air brakes,just hand brakes to stop the train, and Steam Jam Brakes on the Locomotive.)
Rule # 43: Every person changing a switch from the main line, must, before leaving it, place it back to its proper place and lock it. A neglect of this rule will subject the person to dismissal from the service of the Company.
Rule # 59: The General Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Train Dispatcher, are the only persons authorized to move trains by Telegraph.
Rule # 73: When a train loses more than thirty minutes, from any cause, the Conductor will report the cause of delay to the Train Dispatcher from the first Telegraph Office.
Rule # 77: Any person not willing to conform cheerfully and promptly to such orders as may be found necessary for the proper dispatch of business, is particularly requested to leave the service of the company. Rule # 78: All Former Rules conflicting with the above, are hereby repealed.
TODAY: We've got 182 + General Orders amending the RULES and TIMETABLE. We've got a Family Bible Size Book of Rules, at least two Timetables, Haz Mat Books, Copies of General Orders and General Notices and a set of Track Warrants and Track Bulletins that cover the entire railroad not just the part we may travel over on our trip. One of those "Bags with the wheels" for carrying all this around would be really nice.
Please note, there was one and only one safety rule:
Rule # 8: ALWAYS TAKE THE SAFE SIDE IN CASES OF THE LEAST UNCERTAINTY.
Today's Rule 1.1.1 In case of doubt or uncertainty, take the safe course.
I'll be the first to admit we would be hard pressed to operate with the old rules today, however, do you really need a Family Bible Size Monstrosity and over 182 General Orders. I think NOT. There has to be a better way.
Next month we will examine the book from fifty years ago, it would still fit in your hip pocket, but it still contained all the ABS, CTC, APB, rules not need in 1883.
Dan is an engineer working out of Miller - Broadway - Ney Yard.
4-98