The Form 19 was a train order given verbally via the dispatcher in Jamaica
(Room 204) to every block operator on the system as it pertained to his
individual section of track, etc.
The operator would answer the dispatcher's phone (or in the days of telegraph,
he would hear his call letter tapping over the line, and sign on: "PD"
would have been ..... -..)
He would take a blank From 19 pad, insert carbon paper to get the required
amount of copies and a hard backing so as to provide a hard writing surface and
copy the order, by hand, from the dispatcher.
He would then repeat the order back to the dispatcher. If all was correct,
he would put the superintendent of transportation's initials across the bottom
of the order, "make the order complete", sign the order and put the
time it was made complete.
He would then take the top two copies and put them on the order hoops or "Y"s,
holding one up to the engineer and the other up to the conductor.
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This procedure was also done to freights. (The office copies were put on a hook on the wall. At the end of the month, they were bundled up and tossed in the attic of "PD".
Also included in with the order may have been various forms of
clearance cards (ex: "K" card, "C" card, etc.) Here's another Form 19 from Patchogue before the days of "PD". The block station call letters were "PG" and was located in the depot. When "PD" cabin and later "PD" tower opened, the station retained "PG" as their telegraphic call letters for station business and "PD" was put in use for the block business. It reads: Train Order No. 29
Apl 4, 1906 |