CB&Q's Montgomery (Illinois) Tower at Night
The picture is again a selfie. The box at the right with the crank is a generator, which rings the phones on the line it is plugged into (see the four plug holes in front of me). The greenish papers hanging diagonally are the Tower's copies of Train Orders (aka Filmsies) issued. The box partially visible box in the upper right is the sounder for the telegraph. I don't know if any of the regular towermen used code at that time. The lit light of the four lights at the right indicates a westbound train is approaching on the westbound track. The date was September 11, 1964.
I mentioned earlier that I don't remember copying Train Orders or handing them up while working as a replacement for vacationing operator/levermen at Montgomery Tower. But I never worked first trick when a way freight might go down the branch to Ottawa and Streator and need orders.
CB&Q's Montgomery (Illinois) Tower at Night
The picture is again a selfie. The box at the right with the crank is a generator, which rings the phones on the line it is plugged into (see the four plug holes in front of me). The greenish papers hanging diagonally are the Tower's copies of Train Orders (aka Filmsies) issued. The box partially visible box in the upper right is the sounder for the telegraph. I don't know if any of the regular towermen used code at that time. The lit light of the four lights at the right indicates a westbound train is approaching on the westbound track. The date was September 11, 1964.
I mentioned earlier that I don't remember copying Train Orders or handing them up while working as a replacement for vacationing operator/levermen at Montgomery Tower. But I never worked first trick when a way freight might go down the branch to Ottawa and Streator and need orders.