|
VOLUME THIRTY-ONE
|
NUMBER FOUR 2001
|
Former Telegrapher Dispatches Messages of Farewell and Thanks
By Laura Baenen
Minneapolis - On his last day on the job after a
44-year career, Stuart Nelson, who had seen everything from telegraph keys to mouse pads, wasn't
expecting any changes. But "they pulled a dirty trick on me", Stu said. "They changed all the
train numbers".
It was his last shift as a train dispatcher (Rail Traffic Controller, in Canada) in the Minneapolis Operations
Center, on 31 Jul 2001, and Stu was all smiles. In conversation with Jim Altringer, a clerk at
Portal, North Dakota, he had mistakenly referred to train "429", but quickly corrected himself to
"199", the train's new designation under the current numbering system.
Stu coped with many changes in a career that began in 1957, when as a scared but excited
18-year-old he went to work as a third-shift telegraph operator for the Soo Line
Railroad in his hometown of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, where he handled communications and train orders. He
still marvels at the heady changes that were occurring in the world, and all those that have happened since.
While the Russian's Sputnik satellite was heating up the space race, the mixed train on the Wheat Line from
Thief River Falls to Kenmare, N.D., was still carrying kerosene marker lamps on the rear end.
After a short stint with the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Korea, Stu worked 24 towns as a
telegrapher/agent-operator, in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. In 1964, he became a
dispatcher at the Minneapolis Shoreham Yard and later worked at Enderlin, N.D., and Milwaukee. His final
workplace was on the 16th floor of the Soo Line Building, now known as 501 Marquette, in downtown Minneapolis.
Stu brought his old key and sounder on his last day, and tapped out the old station signs. "I'm as rusty
as can be", Stu said, referring to his former telegraphy skills. "I can send but I can't
receive".
Despite fond memories, Stu is grateful for technological advances in the industry, especially computers.
"Dispatcher answering Max radio", said Stu, tapping a blinking light on one of the five screens at
his desk.
"I need time between MP452 on the New Town sub and the east yard limit at Max", replied track
foreman Robert Ostrom.
Granting a track warrant for the work (Track Occupancy Permit, in Canada), Stu advised the train; "Make
all movements at restricted speed. Track occupied by men or equipment".
Ensuring the safety of train crews and work crews was always a personal issue with Stu. He had worked with
many of his colleagues' fathers and grandfathers, brothers and uncles. His own brother, Bruce
"Buzz" Nelson is a conductor. Their father, Millard Nelson, was a yard clerk and their grandfather,
John E. Nelson, was an engineer.
Stu always knew he would be a railroader, too. As a Boy Scout, he learned Morse code from Thief River Falls
dispatcher Bill Walters.
Many good-byes and good wishes were bestowed on Stu that last day, and he repeatedly thanked
crews for rides over the years. Riding with crews every three years is mandatory for dispatchers, and Stu
enjoyed them. Because his territory is "dark", meaning there are no block signals, train and work
crews relied on him for authority to occupy any given stretch of the single track.
"I can draw out nearly every station, how the track lies just from memory", Stu said.
After gathering up his belongings so the next dispatcher could sit down, Stu had one more message to give,
"It's all yours", he said simply. And he walked out the door for the last time.
When Stu isn't at his lake cabin, he can be reached at his home at 3808 Weave Court, Anoka, MN 55303. After a
fall cruise with his wife, Karen, from New York to Montreal, he plans to spend his retirement practicing
photography, writing about railroad history, and researching his family's roots in Norway and
Sweden.
This Canadian Pacific
Railway News article is copyright 2001 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is reprinted here
with their permission. All photographs, logos, and trademarks are the property of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Company.
|
|
