Dispatcher-to-train communications

P

Pendolino

Cab mode weirdo
I have a question for our fellow US trainzers: what is the wording of dispatcher-to-train communications in the US?
Here in Italy, all train are numbered, so the usual communication wording is "DCO(*) to train [train number]..."
(*) acronym for dispatching center

Since many US railroads use alphanumeric train codes, are these spelled using the letter names (a, bee, cee...), or the NATO/Aviation code (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...), or some other code?

Thanks in advance!
 
Hi Carlo,

The BNSF here in northern California uses the lead engine number followed by the trains direction........

"Gateway Sub. Dispatcher to the BNSF 6723 north"
Sometimes followed by a location.

As The Gateway Sub. is unsignaled track (dark), I hear a lot of chatter.....the DS giving warrants, the train repeating them to the DS, the train calling the DS to "clear" a warrant and so forth. Sometimes the radio can get very busy.

DaveL........patiently waiting for Donner:)

P.S.
Carlo try this URL........you can listen to RR radios all over the US.......will tell you exactly what you want to know !!

http://railroadradio.net/
 
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Or some time they do refer to the train by train number. Lots of times on the CN Flint sub you'll hear "CN Desk number 8 to 502." 502 might not have any power that is numbered 502, but the train is labeled 502. Other times they might just call out by crew name. "CN Desk number 8 to foreman Joe Framer." (Heard that while I was typing this)

Different railroads, and different subdivisions of those railroads, and ever different dispatchers all work differently.
 
Up here in the Pacific Northwest on the BNSF the dispatcher always starts by stating which area he (or she) is dispatching. These are: Seattle Terminal, North Branch, Centralia North, Centralia South.

For road trains, he will then call the train either by the lead engine's number or by it's train symbol. Sometimes the engine number will be used with East, West, North or South designation.
Local jobs will be called by their nickname or job number. We have a local job in Seattle called "The Renton Rocket". Or he'll call out to "Job 130", "Job 114", etc.
Passenger trains are called by their engine number only, not the name of the train. If AMTK 77 is pulling the "Empire Builder" train, it'll only be referred to as "AMTK 77".

Examples:

Seattle Terminal Dispatch to BNSF 6962 East

North Branch Dispatch to BNSF 2729

Centrailia North Dispatch to the "Sea Pass" (SEAPAS is the Seattle to Pasco train)

Seattle Terminal Dispatch calling the "Chick Tack" (CHCTAC - Cicero Yard, Chicago to Tacoma)

Centralia South Dispatch calling AMTK 119 (Amtrak, engine #119)

Todd
 
Hi,

Pendolino hit upon an interesting subject. In this context I would first like to know whether the US government passed mandatory rules on how signaling and verbal comunications between dispatchers and locomotive crews are to be conducted, or whether each railway company is free to set up its own rules.
My second question is how strict are (and were) such rules in the US?
The reason for asking is, that I am currently studying train operations by the Grandducal Baden State Railways during the 19th century. During that period the methods of operating trains developed gradually.
In those days communication between trains and dispatchers, occured verbally between the dispatcher and station personel by Morse telegraph. The communications were then passed on to the train personel either by written verbal communication or non-verbally through signals. The reason for written or Morse communication was the written records generated in the process.
Verbal communication was strictly regulated down to the exact wording. I understand, that this continued even after replacing Morse telegraphy by the telephone with voice recording.
My final question is therefore how are ( and were in the past) things handled in the US.


Cheers,


Konni
 
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