| Here is a scan of what is known as a clearance card. It was used during the time when trains operated on a system utilizing timetables and train orders. A clearance card was basically a table of contents and a means of identification. Train orders would be issued for a schedule and when a train was assembled and ready to run, all orders issued for that schedule would be given to the conductor and engineer of the train. The clearance card would be written up by the operator and he would verify the information on the card with the dispatcher. The dispatcher would check his records and make sure the train was given all the orders addressed to it and give a complete time, in this case 606PM. The operator would give a copy of the clearance card and all the orders addressed to that particular train to the conductor and engineer. More than one train could operate on a schedule and in this case that is what was done. Another train had operated earlier using 138's schedule. This train is following and is also using 138's schedule and will be known as second 138. The train identification shows that this is actually 138's train. The train that operated earlier could have been a late train whose schedule expired or an extra movement. Kinda complicated but it had many safety features built in that were meant to avoid 2 trains being on the same track at the same time. |