designated an extra. It would seem logical, then, that if technically there
were no "passenger train, " there certainly could be no "extra passenger
train." Some railroads require that all trains be designated by class or as
extras.
Many other railroads, however, recognize the need for the extra
passenger train designation and use it for trains which cannot be run on
another train's schedule. This designator demands and receives more respect
from yard crews and from crews of trains of equal class who at least know
that this train is more important than a train of coal. Crews of scheduled
trains, however, must regard the "extra passenger" as inferior to their own.
When an overflow of passengers requires another train, the dispatcher
may authorize--create--an additional train and call it a "section." To give
this section first-class standing, the dispatcher often runs it as a
continuation of a first-class scheduled train and calls it a "second
section."
As an example, assume that first-class No. 87 leaves Conroy at
1700 hours, and a section must be run 30 minutes later. The dispatcher can
give this section right over other trains that would otherwise be superior
by calling the section "Second 87." By doing so, regular 87 becomes "First
87." The train orders that the dispatcher issues and their interpretation
are given in the subparagraphs following.
a. Orders. To the crew of First 87 and to all telegraph offices and
stations along the line would go this train order: "Engine 450 Display
Signals* and Run as First 87 Conroy to Maxey." To acquaint all personnel
with details of the second section and its expected time, the following
order would also be necessary: "Engine 464 Run as Second 87 Conroy to Maxey
and Wait at Conroy Until 1730 Hours."
b. Interpretation.
The first order requires that all engines and
trains clear First 87 on its regular time the same as if the order had not
been issued. In addition, it requires that the engineer of First 87 blow
one long and two short blasts on his whistle to notify every train of the
same class, every inferior train in the same direction, and all yard engines
that his train is displaying signals for another section.
An engine so
notified must acknowledge this signal by two short blasts. The second order
is the authority on
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* On all sections except the last, two green flags are displayed during
the day and, in addition, two green lights at night (rule No. 20).
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