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OK Tim...Here we go: On NS, dispatching centers are located in Division headquarters cities. Two divisions were just recently combined, so there may be two for that division. One was pretty antiquated. Dispatchers divide the division into districts approximately 100+ miles or so. This may also vary, but that is the general rule. Each district is identified by name, i.e. Blue Ridge District, Virginia Division, Shenandoah District, etc. Most of the dispatch centers are computer aided so that trains appear on a map located on a big board as lights that progress with them movement. Individual signals and their aspects, including those govering turnouts. At the more modern centers, this a big semi-circular, darkened room with 5, 6, 7 or so dispatchers. They are in touch with each train on their district. Dispatchers plan their meets based on siding length, crossover intervals, train length and other traffic. The computer aided dispatching system has the capacity to help plan meets, if possible to be non-stop. That's the optimum. Train priority is determined by it's symbol. In other words, an Amtrak train would have priority over a through freight which would have priority over a local. Depending on the type of train, some symbols have prority over others. Roadrailers will be given rights over other trains. Again, none of this set in concrete. Conditions may be present that dictate a deviation. If a train is scheduled to go from Miles From Nowhere, Texas to Sludge Pump, Oklahoma, the symbol will tell the dispatcher just that. Then he and the computer and eveything else plan the moves. It really works and I have nothing but good things to say about the dispatchers in today's centers. These folks are highly trained (no pun intended)and are required to be qualified on their district. They are required to take a rules test every year. The jobs are high stress and it takes a special level of dedication to do them correctly. There's a whole lot of similarity between them and air traffic controllers so far as stress is concerned. These are short answers to your questions. When you have more, fire when ready! gdc
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