A Murder Mystery at Marion - McMullin, 1945

[NW Mailing List]

Turnip Czar Burnett,I have no insights on why this interesting Form 19 was issued. I’d only note that, ironically, the Y-class hauling 88 that day survives in 2023, the only one of the 3 locos here to escape the torch.
Andre Jackson
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On Monday, May 29, 2023, 11:30 AM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

   A certain impresario and dignitary in Wythe County, Va, hath sent the attached Train Order copied at Chilhowie on May 13, 1945.       Notice that the Train Order is not addressed to anyone at Chilhowie save the Operator.  That means the Chilhowie is not delivering the Order to any of the trains involved.       The Order provides for No 7, a westward First Class train, to meet No 42 and No 6, eastward First Class trains, at Marion.  So far, no problem.  All trains are of the same Class, but No 7 is inferior by virtue of direction (eastward trains are superior to westward trains of the same class on the Radford Division.)  That means 7 will go in the hole for 42 and 6 at Marion.  No problem:  everything is clear.         The Order also provides that No 7 will then meet No 88 at McMullin.  McMullin at this time was a "blind siding" (meaning that it had no Telegraph office to handle Train Orders.)  But there is still no problem.  No 88 is a Third Class train and will therefore go in the hole for No 7.       Everything is copacetic.  Standard railroading, and the Order is clear.       But WHY is the Operator at Chilhowie addressed on this Train Order?  Chilhowie is about six miles west of the territory where the action is happening.  And on this territory the Operators do not block trains with their semaphore signals, because automatic block signals are in service on the Bristol Line.   But those automatic block signals do not give trains authority to use the main track:  that authority is still given by Time Table or Train Order.        So really, the Operator at Chilhowie had nothing to do with the meets mentioned in the Order and was not handling blocking for any of the involved trains.  And the Operator at Chilhowie is not receiving this as a "middle order" for a meet.       So, WHY is the Train Dispatcher giving Chilhowie a copy of this Order?       I have no answer.  It may have something to do with the fact that May 13, 1945 was a Sunday, and the only other station on this territory, Seven Mile Ford (between Chilhowie and McMullin,) may have been closed that day.  And it may have something to do with earlier Train Orders of which we have no knowledge.       Does anyone have the answer...?       -- abram burnett   We Recommend High-Energy Turnip Tonic          ________________________________________
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