Did the N&W Have a "Cipher Code" ?

[NW Mailing List]

Yes I have one from 18 something N&W RR its a fairly thick book

Larry Evans

"There's the sun, there's the moon, there's the air we breathe, and
there's the Rolling Stones"  Keith Richards

> On May 30, 2017, at 9:06 AM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> Most of the big roads published a "cipher code," a book of code words representing longer often-used phrases in messages.  All agencies, stations and offices had a copy.   Every published cipher I have ever seen began with the following words:  "The purpose of this cipher code is brevity, not secrecy."
> 
> A couple examples, lifted from a cipher book of another road:  "  GRIN - When empty hold for orders and advise.  WEAN - Work awaiting this material.  Have shipped at once.  MEAN - Do not allow shipments to be resumed.  INKY - Cars arrived at --- without waybill.  KITE - Connecting line will not accept unless shipment is prepaid.  Amount required beyond this station is --- .
> 
> The big roads even had a position known as the Telegraph Censor, whose duty it was to review telegrams and report those who "abused the economy of the wires" by sending long-winded telegrams without employing the cipher code words !
> 
> Has anyone ever seen a cipher code published by the N&W?  I have not.
> 
> -- abram burnett
> 
> 
> ===========================================
>                   Sent to You from my Telegraph Key
> Successor to the MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH LINE of 1844
> ===========================================
> 
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