Is the train on time? Is it late? How late? Do I have time to get the "T" train out? Conrail wants to move, too. That's about the time a track department foreman will call on the radio and ask, "Attleboro, I need to move a piece of equipment, over."
Sometimes the response is simple, "Roger. Take a number."
That's all that needed to be said.
Second trick op Jim Crowley at Attleboro had his busy moments, but none were like Joe McCabe and the first trick. That was when the track car foremen made their patrols. Not only that, but the Attleboro ops had to deal with two dispatchers - the Main Line dispatcher between Mansfield Interlocking, which Attleboro controlled, and Atwells Interlocking, which Attleboro also controlled. Attleboro also controlled Cranston Interlocking, the next westward plant.That was about 20 route miles, end-to-end. Cranston was also where the Shore Line dispatcher's territory began. Those were the days of paperwork - keeping a train sheet and OS-ing the arrival and departure times at several places - Attleboro, Providence, Cranston, and Atwells.
Autumn 1992

Photographed by Leo King, 1992.
Added to the photo archive by Leo King, May 29, 2004.
Railroad: Amtrak/Northeast Corridor.

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