Today we all begin “Standard Time.” Actually, it started early this morning at 2AM when we were all supposed get up and move the clock back one-hour, gaining an extra hour of sleep. To my knowledge, no one got up at 2AM.
Railroads have always functioned by the clock. All operating personnel, enginemen, conductors, brakemen, dispatchers, maintenance of way folks, and others all need to function precisely, on the same time. Over the years railroads spent a fortune assuring every pocket watch worn by a railroader was accurate, to the second. Watch repairmen were under contract to provide this service. Rail management despised Daylight Savings Time as it meant changing their passenger schedules, among other things. (Only farmers were less happy with DST)
Railroaders timepieces, timetable, and special instructions kept trains from running into each other. This was in the days prior to the computer screen now in view of the engineer and conductor as they glide along their way. They can now communicate in real time with the dispatcher, coordinating meets, and change strategies in order to expedite their cargo.
- S. Railroads did the country a great service in 1883 when, on their own, no governmental involvement, established our four time-zones. Fifty-Six standards of time were folded into the four zones we set time by today. Only minor tweaking has altered the original map, mostly to enhance economic zones. Photo by the late Richard Steinheimer.
Gary O. Ostlund