CSX Train Dispatcher Pictures (former conrail) In Indy

[Anonymous]

http://train-dispatchers.com/images/indyoffice/

[Anonymous]

Very cool pics. I have some in-laws that live a few miles north of downtown there, so that sight is familiar. Does each dispatcher have their own desk, or do three or four dispatchers share one desk ie, the IB desk, etc.

[Modelcar]

...And I'm just 50 some miles north too.....Good clear and natural looking photos and subject is a bit different. Interesting. Great shot of the night sky in downtown.

[Anonymous]

4 dispatchers share a desk. 1st , 2nd, 3rd shift and a relief job.

[MP173]

I have always found dispatching the trains far more interesting than operating the trains.

Back in the day when you could, I would get to know operators at towers and spend the day with them. It was fascinating listening to the pulse of the railroad. Today I spend far more time listening to my scanner than watching or photographing. It is convenient to be either reading or playing guitar and have the scanner on and hear the status of the nightly processions of eastbounds on the NS Chicago - Ft. Wayne line.

CSX dispatcher...could you explain the trainsheet please?

I have a collection of those from towers, but that appears to be for an entire district. Are you required to enter the times each train passes each CP?

It seems that would be redundant. Wouldnt the computer dispatch system keep that info? Or is it used as an aide in dispatching to keep track of movements.

Any insight you can offer on this interesting aspect of railroading is appreciated.

Great shot of downtown Indy.

Oh, any towers left standing in Indy?

ed

[locomutt]

Cool pics,and interesting,[:)]

[JoeKoh]

Nice diagrams and pics!
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Nice shots!

[Anonymous]

I can post more if you wish.....what else would you all like to see?

[spankybird]

Very nice pics.

I would have thought that would be a non-smoking area


or isn't that smoke [?]

tom

[Junctionfan]

It kind of looks like a ghost.

Is Train Dispatcher game/simulation accurate to real life dispatching except of course you can't talk to the crew?

[spankybird]

Click on that pic to enlarge it, it does look like a gost. Was someone sitting there[?]

Also look at the person in the back, to the left of the clock. Was someone really there also[?]

[Anonymous]

spankybird: I dispatch right through Willoughby, I dont know how yall live there with all the chicago/buffalo traffic.

Ok....to answer your questions about the "ghost"

It isnt a ghost....its a dispatcher. The reason it looks that way is becuase I had to leave the exposure on long enough to get the light in. Our office is so dark, you almost cant even see the floor. And for that reason, if anybody/thing moves in front of it, it will leave a streak (ghost)
:)

[Anonymous]

IB Desk - St Louis,IL to Indianapolis,IN (st louis line)
IC Desk - Indianapolis Terminal (stlouis/indianapolis line) and other sec.
ID Desk - Indianapolis to Bellfountain,OH (indianapolis line)
IE Desk - Bellfountain,OH to Galion,OH (indianapolis line)
................- Toledo,OH (toledo br.) to Columbus,OH (scottslawn sec.)
IF Desk - Galion,OH to Berea,OH (indianapolis line)
................- Columbus,OH to Galion,OH (columbus line)
IG Desk - Berea,OH to Cleveland,OH (shortline)
................- Cleveland Terminal
IH Desk - Cleveland,OH to Erie,PA (chicago line)

[Anonymous]

I can get a digital video camera to take in with me. The only thing is, I dont know if csx would get angry with me.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing those pictures, that's a part of the railway that really doesn't get all that much notice.

Fun to see!

[spankybird]

Thanks csx-dispatcher,

I sure am glad that’s not a ghost.

We live about ½ a mile from the tracks, so I here the trains all the time. I noticed last weekend (8-14-04) that there was very little traffic on the rails. I here 4 to 6 trains per hour with both the CSX and NS tracks being together here.


tom

[cherokee woman]

Thanks for the pics. They are magnificent. [angel]

[Modelcar]

CSX-DS......How about a look at downtown area railroading in Indy....if you have those pic's avail. And how about a few comments of what kind of camera {digital or film}, you're using for your inside DS photos....Perhaps how much exposure time, etc....Thanks.

[jeaton]

I like the pics, too. Unfortunately, the ghostly images may confirm to road crews that you guys can just disappear every time they encounter a positive stop. LOL.

A thought. A visiting area would be neat. Behind glass, of course. Make that thick glass and sound proofing to isolate fans who would try to tell you how to do your job.

Jay

[MP173]

CSX DS:

Thanks for the pics. You mentioned several desks that you man. Can I assume that each desk is manned by one person? Or do you cover all of those desks during one shift?

I am familiar with the Indy - St. Louis line, having grown up in Southern Illinois and spending quality young adult time at Effingham. That is a stretch of about 250 miles and I believe it is all CTC, or whatever you call it.

What are the factors in determining how much territory a DS can handle? Is it mileage, number of trains, type of system (CTC, or TW)?

I was listening in on the scanner yesterday afternoon and it was interesting listening to the NS. An EB hopper train tripped the detector twice. The train was 160 cars and the 46th car was the problem. The conductor walked the train and the journal was "warm, but you could put your hand on it." They were near a CTC siding with a stub siding in the siding....facing the wrong way!

The crew wanted to take it 20 miles further but the dispatch, in my opinion did the right thing and they ran around the train and put the car away. All in all it was well over a 2 hour delay.

Those kinda situations must really be tough for a DS to handled.

In that situation, does he/she consult with a supervisor, or make the decision?

Who decides the priorities of the trains? The Chief DS? or is there a operations person who sees the big picture?

Interesting job.

thanks for the input.

ed

[Anonymous]

We pretty much run the railroad the way we want. Unless it involves delaying UPS traiffic / Outlawed trains / recrewing trains.

Our chiefs our responsible for Calling crews / Power ...ect.

Each Desk that I mentioned is manned by one person for a 8 hr shift.