|
| Title: |
Clearance card |
| Description: |
Here is a scan of what is known as a clearance card. It was used during the time when trains operated on a system utilizing timetables and train orders. A clearance card was basically a table of contents and a means of identification. Train orders would be issued for a schedule and when a train was assembled and ready to run, all orders issued for that schedule would be given to the conductor and engineer of the train. The clearance card would be written up by the operator and he would verify the information on the card with the dispatcher. The dispatcher would check his records and make sure the train was given all the orders addressed to it and give a complete time, in this case 606PM. The operator would give a copy of the clearance card and all the orders addressed to that particular train to the conductor and engineer. More than one train could operate on a schedule and in this case that is what was done. Another train had operated earlier using 138's schedule. This train is following and is also using 138's schedule and will be known as second 138. The train identification shows that this is actually 138's train. The train that operated earlier could have been a late train whose schedule expired or an extra movement. Kinda complicated but it had many safety features built in that were meant to avoid 2 trains being on the same track at the same time. |
| Photo Date: |
1/1/1950 Upload Date: 11/1/2009 8:21:21 AM |
| Location: |
Birmingham, AL |
| Author: |
Bryan Smith |
| Categories: |
Yard |
| Locomotives: |
|
| Views: |
404 Comments: 1 |
|
|
|
| Title: |
Train orders |
| Description: |
On this section of track, eastbound trains of the same class had right over westbounds of the same class. Class was designated in the timetable. In this case 135 and 138 are both first class trains moving in opposite directions therefore 138 would be superior. Before 135 could occupy the mainline, he would have to have something on opposing trains of the same class. Second class or inferior trains opposing 135 would have to have something on 135. This train orfer gives First 135 the right of track from Columbus to Trammels (the beginning of CTC which took precedent over train orders). If second 138 got to Trammells and first 135 was still at Opelika, the dispatcher could move second 138 further eastward by setting up a meet, say at Camp Hill. The dispatcher would have to set the meet up with the superior train first. In other words, he would have to issue a train order to first 135 first before delivering one to second 138. Another safe guard. |
| Photo Date: |
12/14/1976 Upload Date: 11/1/2009 8:21:44 AM |
| Location: |
Birmingham, AL |
| Author: |
Bryan Smith |
| Categories: |
Yard |
| Locomotives: |
|
| Views: |
381 Comments: 1 |
|
|
|
| Title: |
Train order |
| Description: |
This train order simply designates this train to operate as second 138. The lead locomotive number was the means of identification. We also know from this order that there will not be a third 138. If there was to be a third 138 the train would have read "Engine 3230 display signals and run as second 138 Trammells to Columbus". By not instructing them to display signals, this is the last section. All sections of a schedule would display green flags and lights except the last section. |
| Photo Date: |
12/14/1976 Upload Date: 11/1/2009 8:22:08 AM |
| Location: |
Birmingham, AL |
| Author: |
Bryan Smith |
| Categories: |
Yard |
| Locomotives: |
|
| Views: |
247 Comments: 1 |
|
|
|
| Title: |
Train order |
| Description: |
This train order sets up a meet between second 138 and an extra headed west. The extra must have something on every train scheduled in the timetable and this is what he has on second 138. The engine number of the extra (3136, an SD35) indicates this is a mainline train that has lost it's schedule (schedules stayed in effect for 12 hours, after that they were void) or simply an extra move brought about by heavy tonnage. It probably was a surprise move since dispatchers did not like to have to run a train extra due to having to issue a multitude of train orders. If the dispatcher had known this move may have been forthcoming, he probably would have "put flags on" a schedule going west so he could have run this extra as a section of another train. A train could not be designated as a section once it had left it's initial station. |
| Photo Date: |
12/14/1976 Upload Date: 11/1/2009 8:31:05 AM |
| Location: |
Birmingham, AL |
| Author: |
Bryan Smith |
| Categories: |
Yard |
| Locomotives: |
|
| Views: |
241 Comments: 1 |
|
|
|
| Title: |
SOU orders |
| Description: |
|
| Photo Date: |
12/14/1976 Upload Date: 11/1/2009 8:24:04 AM |
| Location: |
Birmingham, AL |
| Author: |
Bryan Smith |
| Categories: |
Yard |
| Locomotives: |
|
| Views: |
277 Comments: 1 |
|
|
|
| Title: |
Train order |
| Description: |
Here is bulletin order that is restricting the speed over a part of the railroad most likely due to track conditions. This order was also used to annul a previous order. |
| Photo Date: |
12/14/1976 Upload Date: 11/1/2009 8:24:20 AM |
| Location: |
Birmingham, AL |
| Author: |
Bryan Smith |
| Categories: |
Yard |
| Locomotives: |
|
| Views: |
226 Comments: 1 |
|
|
|
| Title: |
Train order |
| Description: |
A bulletin order issued to restrict speed over a section of the line probably due to track conditions. |
| Photo Date: |
12/14/1976 Upload Date: 11/1/2009 8:25:07 AM |
| Location: |
Birmingham, AL |
| Author: |
Bryan Smith |
| Categories: |
Yard |
| Locomotives: |
|
| Views: |
252 Comments: 1 |
|
|
|
