Morse Code: Enhancing my operating joy on my 1949 C&O

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

A facet of the hobby that I enjoy very much is running trains on my New River Subdivision by Timetable & Train Order (TT&TO) as it was done in the late 1940s on the C&O.

With so much time spent on researching and modeling my favorite road, it made sense to me to use TT&TO when I move trains.

This can be weird because I operate by myself. That means I have to wear “different hats” at the same time!

To kick up the fun, when I (the Dispatcher me) give out a train order/clearance form to a Station Operator (me again! [swg]), I broadcast pre-recorded Morse Code to hear the dialog between Dispatcher and Station Operator.

For example, to issue a TO to Thurmond (Telegraph code: DU). The Dispatcher would call DU.

He would then tell the Station Operator:

“19 Red West Copy 3” (Translate: I will issue a Form 19 Train Order for a specific Westward train (to be specified in the TO), set the train order signal to Red, and make 3 copies of the TO).

The Operator would answer by saying “SD Red West”. Translate: Signal Displayed Red in the Westward direction.

The Operator would then carefully write down the specifics of the TO word for word (there is a protocol that I won’t get into here).

Here is the back-and-forth by Morse Code.

Dispatcher: “DU. 19 Red West Copy 3.”

Morse Code: -… …- .-.-.- / .---- ----. / .-. . -… / .-- . … - / -.-. — .–. -.-- / …-- .-.-.-

Operator reply: “SD Red West.”

Morse Code: … -… / .-. . -… / .-- . … - .-.-.-

Really neat. Too bad I could not figure out how to upload the .wav files. I now have the cue to operate my train order signal at Thurmond (and other block stations along the line).

My wife thinks I’m nuts, but hey the true fun is always i

2

Joel,

I tried learning Morse code as a Boy Scout, got as far as SOS.

When Uncle Sam called me, he thought I’d make a good Intercept Operator. He didn’t ask me if I knew Morse code. Either my fingers were not connected to my ears or there was a short circuit in my brain somewhere. Didn’t last long in training, went on to places nicer than the sound of where that job would have taken me.

It certainly was a part of railroading for many years and one not often used as part of modeling. Radio has taken over both the prototype and modeling. It might even be fun to have an operating group that used it, but I doubt that there are many folks now that would know it.

Have fun,

Richard

3

Hey, ALL model railroaders are NUTS. I have redesigned and rebuilt my dream layout 3 times in 19 years, so far. I am trying to finish the third verion. Just ENJOY the hobby. After al lthat is what is all about.

4

Joel,

I see you are using the correct ‘American’ or ‘Railway’ Morse code. This was the original code developed by Samual Morse and used by American railroads. ‘International’ Morse is what I learned in HS at a Ham Club. Both are sort of ‘retired’ by this time. One does not even need to use it on a Ham ‘Technician’ license test. One used to have to be able to copy 5 wpm in the ‘old’ days.

Jim

5

Learning Morse Code was, for me, a BIG part of taking the Amateur radio exams…I learned “CW” (continuous wave…!) from a retired Army Major – he would NOT “clear” me for 5 WPM until I could easily copy 10…for 13, I needed to be comfortable with 18…his ratrionale – with pressure on in the exam room, if I could only “get by” I would fail…!

He knew what he was doing…I “aced” 13 for my General Class license…in 1970!!:smiley:

Pity the FCC felt compelled to “lower the bar” by dropping the code requirement…:slight_smile:

May your freight ALWAYS roll smoothly…and ON TIME!!

6

Ah Yes Morse Code… Had to learn it for my Watchkeeping mates Certificate back in 84’. Unfortunately as it was never actually required to do the job I quickly lost it.

However I do remember being on a GMDSS Course in the late 90’s at the Coast Guard College in Sydney Nova Scotia. GMDSS (A hateful system)was replacing the CW and the Marine Radio Operators onboard ships. Duirng the course we were invited to the CG Radio Station, which was at the college, to listen to the Last Morse transmission on 500Khz from an Eastern Canadian CG Radio station.

Yes a lost art as a result of progress.

Kudos to you on keeping it alive. Unfortunately I still have a lot of track, scenery and painting to do before I ever think about the nuances of the hobby!

7

Hey, morse code is alive, even today but only the S.O.S part.

8

I can tell that you guys are putting Morse into the waste basket and I am sure there is not much left. But part of my duty in the military was Morse and in the highlight of my time I was tested at 35 WPM certified but in the real world back then most of the time I was sending and receiving between 18 and 25 WPM on a daily basis. At the same time I was receiving and sending out via teletype. Very fast for those days. Even now sometimes I go to sleep with Morse bouncing around in my head, but not as fast as then. I still miss it. Doug

9

Thanks to all who have posted a reply so far. It sure looks like I rekindled fond memories for many of you folks.

My wife’s late father was trained in Morse Code (American and International) when he was in the Signal Corp in the European Theatre during WWII. George was highly skilled and I remember him tapping away fast and furious in his basement Ham Radio lair “talking” to his HR buddies from around the world. He built his own antenna and had a neat system that used satellites to broadcast and receive. I was impressed by how George made it look so easy and fluid to send and receive.

I wanted to have Morse tapping away in my basement to complete my MR experience and set the mood. This gives more purpose to my miniature equipment as they do their thing to make $$$ for the C&O in my rendition of the past.

Joel