Lowder, J H 1976-08-05
J. H. Lowder speaks of his years as a telegrapher and car dispatcher for the Fort Worth and Denver Railway.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: J. H. Lowder
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: August 05, 1976
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Interviewer: Richie Cravens
Length: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Family background,
Quit school in fourth grade,
Western Union messenger in Childress, Texas,
Warehouseman-clerk,
Night clerk with railroad,
Telegrapher in Haskell, Texas,
Watched cotton for fire,
Nationwide shop strike (1922),
Farming conditions in Munday, Texas,
Passenger trains,
Freight trains,
Use of switcher,
Shipping cattle,
Waggoner Ranch,
Cattle ranches,
Agent telegrapher at Dundee, Texas,
Train dispatching.
Tape 1, Side 2: Cashier telegrapher in Spur, Texas (1926),
Relationship with Clifford Jones,
Swenson Cattle Company,
Depression,
Cashier telegrapher at Munday, Texas,
Telegrapher at Abilene, Texas,
Displaced by others with seniority,
Worked in Petrolia, Texas,
Non-telegraph agency,
Consolidation of seniority districts of Fort Worth and Denver Railway (1940),
Pearl Harbor Day,
Effects of World War II,
Railroad business increase,
Troop trains,
Use of Zephyr train,
Handing up train orders,
Train speeds,
Steam engines.
Tape 2, Side 1: Railroad engineers,
Steam engines,
Diesel engines,
Rule book,
Flagging,
Speed restrictions,
Effect of World War II,
Longer work hours,
Heavier mail load,
Increased use of packing house cars,
Refrigerated cars,
Melons, fruits, produce,
Beer,
Rent,
Train dispatcher job,
Oil transport,
Irving dispatcher,
Full time dispatcher.
Tape 2, Side 2: Dispatcher telephones,
Traffic control,
Block signals,
Centralized traffic control,
Radio communication,
Base radio stations,
Dispatching of trains,
Train order books,
Written train orders,
Train crash,
Car distributor,
Superintendent of transportation,
Cattle transportation by train,
Caretaker of cattle on train,
Train headquarters,
Dispatching job responsibilities,
Coal trains,
American Train Dispatcher Association,
General Chairman, Mr. Lowder,
Convention.
Range Dates: 1910-1950s
Bulk Dates: 1910-1950
Access Information
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Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
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