the division are brought about. Likewise, yard engines required to use or
cross the main tracks in doing their work may also be delayed.
When a
regular train becomes late, the average dispatcher is cautious in
authorizing movements that might interfere with its progress. Knowing that
the engineer is trying to make up lost time, the dispatcher is naturally
reluctant to authorize any movement that might conflict with the engineer's
efforts to get back on schedule. Additionally, and probably more important,
the dispatcher has no way of knowing how many minutes the engineer may have
gained since he was reported past the last station. If the dispatcher takes
no positive action, the crews on the division, even though they know the
train is late, cannot use the time represented by the number of minutes it
is running behind. They must respect the published time until they receive
a train order directing otherwise.
If a train were traveling on the Elwood Division from DN to BO and a
yard crew at FV knew that it was 5 minutes late leaving DN, BL, and MD, they
could not depend on using those extra minutes at FV. The reason is that the
train might make up the lost time between MD and FV and arrive at the latter
station on time--5 minutes before the yard crew expected it.
In brief, a
train keeps its right to the time in the published schedule unless and until
the dispatcher temporarily amends it with a train order. When he does, he
notifies the train crew and all appropriate operating employees of the
order.
4.10.
ORDERS AFFECTING SCHEDULED TRAINS
Chapter 5 deals exclusively with the many forms of train orders; earlier
paragraphs in the text touch upon certain orders and show in detail how they
affect the overall movement of trains over a division.
From an
instructional standpoint and in fairness to the reader, it seems unwise to
completely avoid discussing orders until the last chapter. Therefore, those
earlier paragraphs, in which basic dispatching principles are cited, explain
some of the train orders that dovetail with the particular discussion. In
the subparagraphs that follow, specific examples are given of some of the
train orders necessary in handling scheduled trains. In explaining many of
the orders ahead of chapter 5, you are given a working knowledge and an
understanding of the intent of some of the many orders before beginning the
detailed discussion in that chapter.
a. A run-late order to a train has the same effect as changing its
published schedule for the particular trip. It sets back the schedule by as
many minutes as the train is late. Assume that No. 19, a first-class train
running from Conroy to Maxey, is held
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