(This was originally yellow but I found that black and white shows the detail better) Here is a page from a New York Central/Big 4 dispatcher's train order book. The page is dated July 15, 1942 and is for the Cairo line of the Illinois Division. Looks like several train movements are represented here -- both Northbound and Southbound -- appears that three orders were issued as "19" orders and one was issued as a "31" order. We will probably need the assistance of an old time train dispatcher like Tom Abbinett to fully decipher this page! If memory serves, the "31" order is a restrictive order -- in this case it holds all northbound traffic at Midland while Extra 2181 South has "rights over all trains" on the single track between Rose and the wye at Midland; at this time double track was still in place between WR & Rose -- current of traffic rules probably applied between those points, so train orders were only needed on the single track segment. CAPT Rex Settlemoir Collection
I'm sure this was interpreted successfully, but it looks like it was written by a doctor...LOL Ken (BoxcabE50) may be able to define what "19" and "31" orders mean. Ken collects old Train Orders and may also have old rule books...?
31 orders were orders were issued to the train when stopped directly by the opr. to the Engineman and Conductor and read back by them, then made com. by the Dispatcher.
