Dispatcher's Lingo?

[Anonymous]

I have just begun listening to railroad frequencies with my scanner and am confused about what a X Box is and how it pertains to train movements. Could someone help me understand what I am hearing? Thanks in advance, Jeff

[Anonymous]

You may be hearing a track warrant being copied. The DS will tell the conductor which boxes to "x" etc. and you will hear the conductor repeat it back to the DS.

[dknelson]

What is "X box 2" etc d be more clear if you could see the blank paper (perhaps now it is a computer screen) that the engineer and dispatcher are both looking at. There are boxes to check off and some to fill in.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info, can you tell me how a track warrant works and does it automatically expire in a certain time period? Jeff

[Anonymous]

Dave, "X box 2" is a proceed from______ to ________ on __________ track. The DS has a screen in front of him and the conductor has a track warrant form in front of him. The warrants that we use on the BNSF have 17 boxes.

[Anonymous]

A track warrant is your authority to occupy main track within certain limits. It does not automatically expire. The warrant only expires after the crewmember reports clear of the limits to the DS. Hope this helps.
Ken

[Anonymous]

Keep listening you will figure out what the dispatcher is telling the crew to do. It can be the most fun for you if you are on twc dark when more than (one) box is given. Rodney