Bear Creek and South Jackson Operations - BC&SJ III Op Sessions - April 12, 2014 - 10
|
|
Jim the first trick dispatcher is shown here in his native habitat at 6:20AM railroad time. He was so
intent on drafting the next set of train orders he didn't even turn around when the cameraman approached
from behind.
Having separate office space for the dispatcher helps him concentrate on what they're doing. Distracting the dispatcher is a bad idea. It also adds role-playing value - real life dispatchers generally aren't out in the middle of a railroad's operations. The Bear Creek & South Jackson is a dark railroad - no signals (other than the train order semaphores) so there is no CTC panel. Besides being more intersting to dispatch (at least in my opinion), it sames the time and money needed to wire all the blocks and signals. Someday I'll get an era appropriate for 1952 telephone mouthpiece, speaker, and foot switch for the DS, but there are many other tasks requiring attention (and funds) that this isn't likely for some time. Until then the DS talks to the operator and yard master via FRS radio. |