b. Action of dispatcher. Before the dispatcher can permit Extra 9552
West to leave the Wildwood cutoff, he must issue a train order to establish
a meet for the two extras. This particular point is explained and stressed
in paragraphs 2.6 and 5.15--the lesson they teach must never be forgotten in
dispatching trains. The dispatcher calls the operators at Nelson (BO) and
Wildwood (WD) and dictates the following train order: "Extra 4220 East Meet
Extra 9552 West at FV." This order is given to Extra 4220 East at BO. A
copy of it, addressed to the conductor and engineer of Extra 9552 West, is
delivered to the crew at WD, along with running orders authorizing the train
to run extra WD to Maxey.
The order is also given to the operator at FV
under rule 208(2). Holding this order, Extra 9552 West will take siding at
the meet, and the other train will "hold main track," as paragraph 4.4a
explains.
c. First move of all blocks. You are now ready to make the first move
of the cutouts on your division map in annex A. Move No. 9 to Bliss, its
approximate position when Extra 9552 West leaves Wildwood cutoff. Now, move
Extra 4220 East to BO tower where the crew is given the meet order. Move
Extra 9552 West to the siding north of the main line between Wildwood and
Fairview.
Now, bring Extra 4220 East past the westbound extra on the
siding, and advance No. 9 to Madison. Move Extra 4220 East into the siding
opposite Ogdensburg; advance Extra 9552 West to the siding at BO tower.
d. Explanation of first move.
Why was this first move made in this
way? When Extra 4220 East arrived at FV siding, it could not proceed unless
Extra 9552 West was there. If Extra 9552 West arrived first, it would have
to wait for the eastbound extra. Technically, a train is not a train unless
the last car or caboose displays the rear-end markers shown in figure 1.2.
Therefore, a meet cannot be properly fulfilled until the markers are met.
If a train loses its markers, it is no longer a train. Consequently, one
train cannot meet another unless it meets the markers.
For example, if
Extra 20 East had a meet with Extra 21 West at RK, and Extra 21's caboose
became detached before it reached the siding at RK, it would enter the
siding without rear-end markers.
Extra 20 East could not proceed past RK
because, technically, it would not meet a train, and the meet order would
not be properly fulfilled. The reason and importance of this is obvious: if
Extra 20 East did pass RK siding, there would be a danger of its colliding
with a stationary caboose somewhere beyond RK.
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