Ralph began his calculating on the basis of the invariable rule in force on all railroads, that trains running one way have the exclusive right over trains of their own and inferior classes running in the opposite direction. Ralph began his work by framing up the initial order:
"Order number 29 To G. N. E.--all trains G. N. R. R. (Western Division) Dispatcher's office
Special east engine No. 86 will run from Rockton to Dover, having right of track over all trains except No. 8 on the following schedule:
"Stuck," insinuated his copy operator with a grin.
Here was where the figuring came in, along with the knowledge of the road, grades and the like, in which Ralph was by no means lacking, for he knew familiarly nearly every foot of the way out of Rockton. He studied and used up lots of gray matter and even chewed up a pencil or two. Ralph read his schedule carefully and handed it to the second trick operator. The latter knitted his brows for a moment and then slowly said:
"For a beginner that's the best schedule I ever saw."
"It's a hummer, without a doubt. To prevent the lives of the Congressional Committee being placed in peril, though, I think you had better make another."
"You see," went on the operator solemnly, "you have only allowed seven minutes between Lisle and Hull, while the time card shows the distance to be six miles. Dan Lacey and his engine 86 are capable of great bursts of speed, but they can't fly. Then there's the through. She's an hour late from the south today. What are you going to do about her. Pass them on one track, I suppose?"
"He's guying you, Fairbanks," spoke a gruff but pleased voice at Ralph's shoulder. "Lacey can make the spurt without a quiver, and as you probably noticed the late through is cancelled for transfer at Blakeville. You'll do."
Ralph picked up a good deal of general information that day. He perfected himself in the double-order system. This covered the giving of an order to all trains concerned at the same time. A case came up where the dispatcher desired to make a meeting point for two trains. The order was sent simultaneously to both of them. Ralph had a case in point where a train was leaving his end of the division and wherein it was necessary to make a meeting point with a train coming in. Before giving his order to his conductor and engineer he telegraphed to a station at which the incoming train would soon arrive. From there the operator repeated the message back word for word, giving a signal that his red board was turned. By this means both trains received the same order and there would be no doubt about the point at which they were to meet.