M&NA Train Operations 1930

Enough time has passed since the last train order was issued by the Harrison Dispatcher to M&A trains that many of our readers may not have much information about how the railroad ran trains both directions over a single main line track without having collisions and delays. For those old heads that dispatched and ran the M&NA trains today’s systems would seem like pure magic. Even in my own railroad career there have been many seminal changes that have occurred and we’ve had to embrace a lot of new technology. Much of that technology has enhanced not only the safety of train operations but also the safety of those of us who maintain and construct the track and bridges out on the line. Much of the “old ways” are now long gone (try to find a telegraph operator familiar with Railroad Morse Code these days!). So let’s go back to the year 1930 and see how they did it.