In the effort to preserve railroad history, our efforts are most often focused on the physical aspects of the railroad and its infrastructure. But another, and sometimes neglected, element of history lives in the memories of those railroaders who lived that history as part of their day-to-day job.
In this episode of Legacies: Living History, we talk with three retired train dispatchers for an insider’s look at the job of the dispatcher, the ups and downs of day to day railroad operations, and some memorable stories that took place over the span of nearly 50 years.
Edd Fuller, Editor
Thoroughly enjoyed the interviews…..a bit of a perspective that we don’t usually hear much about. And of course one doesn’t stay in that profession for 40+ years without some humorous escapades. (The Iran State Railroad )
This program provides a front row seat on over 150 years of combined railroad experience. These men have not only laugh-out-loud stories, but a detailed memory of their territories as if their last shift was just yesterday. Thank you all for sharing your insights, expertise and humor. I learned a lot in this too brief hour, but the cardinal lesson that came across most clearly to me is never, EVER, mess with a dispatcher.