For those of us interested in RR watches, I stumbled on a nice 1958 B&W movie about winter railroading in Canada : Canada RR in winter
a scene of an engineer having his Ball by Record adjusted and reset by an inspector.It's worth watching, great stuff!...Ted.

Very interesting.

This one is pretty good as well.

https://www.nfb.ca/film/railroad_town

What a fantastic film.

So full of details about how the railroads in snowy areas were kept running.

Loved it, Mike

I think even in black& white that the scenery up there is just mind blowing,that's some pretty rugged country for sure!I can't imagine getting people of today to do some of that work, like those two guys who had to go out on an open Fairmont car to knock snow off the wires. Also got a kick out the watch inspector using tweezers to reset the second hand on that Ball watch.I know that was done a lot but never seen it done before.

Lorne, I watched that RR town one too, it was pretty good!...Ted.

I just now got a chance to watch both of these films and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed both of them! Engaging. Informative. On topic!

Thanks!

William

There was one small bit in there showing some impeccable handwriting. I could hardly believe what I saw. It was beautiful!
Too bad hardly anyone today knows how to write, or even make it legible!

One of my other things I like are fountain pens and write with them all the time. The other day I wrote a congratulation note to someone that earned their Eagle Scout award - only after I gave it to him did I realize that he couldn't read cursive - his dad had to read it to him.

The art of writing is being lost.

A few of us retired railroaders get together for lunch once a month.

Last time we invited a couple dispatcher/operators and after lunch went to my house to record some train order transfers.

One fellow acted as the dispatcher, hand writing the train order while dictating it to the operator (who in this case was just across the table).

The operator typed it out then repeated it back to the dispatcher, just as it would have been done back in the day.

Well we putzed around for 1 1/2 hours and had a good deal of fun but there was so much swearing (these guys are out of practice as they are well into their 70's) and mistakes that we decided to do it again another time with a slightly different approach.

The whole idea was to capture that sing-song as they repeat and spell out the locations and times, we will get it done next time in a manner that could be posted for others to hear.

These guys started talking railroad and we were there for another 2 1/2 hours while they talked about the old days, it was great fun.

This type of clock card was beside every station clock on CNR and CPR here in Canada.

Does anyone know of and have photos of what was used in the US?

This was the crew dispatching board.

Each tag had on it the name of an Engineer, Conductor or Brakeman.

You could always phone and find how many times out you were and when the trains were running.

Most often you would just wander down to the yard office and BS with whoever was there and check the board. Hours could be spent figuring out who was going where, when and on what train along with scheming how to get an extra trip.

Eventually all the railways went to a system of centralized crew calling so these boards disappeared and along with them the tradition of "checking the board".

Interesting Lorne, I watched the National Film Board flicks also. What I noticed right away was the number of cigarette smokers in the films. you just don't see that today...as we are cast outs today.

Rick

Lorne, did you ever make runs down into the U.S.? I know that CNR owned the Grand Trunk and the Central Vermont which runs down near me in eastern Connecticut to the New London State Pier.I used to often see Grand Trunk locos in with the CV freights.CV is now New England Central, I don't know if it is still Canadian owned.Thanks! Ted.

To Dave and Mike, I know what you mean about the dispatchers handwriting, I noticed it too.I'm only 62, but when I was in school, they really beat neat legible handwriting into you, I still have pretty decent writing to this day because of it.Today, I guess you only have to be able to sign your name, nothing else.Unbelievable!!

quote:

Lorne, did you ever make runs down into the U.S.?

As much as I would like to have done so I never had the opportunity.

The CV was sold to RailTex when CN privatized in 1995.

Keep an eye for any info on those clock comparison cards used in the U.S.

Thanks Lorne1 Take care, Ted.