A very interesting thread, full of information to better understanding.
Regarding the partial de-centralization of dispatch centers (addition to MWH’s good response), UP also has a regional center located in the JR Davis yard office in Roseville, CA. This dispatcher, known as DS-57, controls territories in and around the Scaramento Area (former WP and SP lines), and the frequency is 160.875 (AAR 51).
Dave, yes, you are certainly right on about their Texas twang. I most often hear the "East End Dispatcher from about noon to three in the afternoon and it is often a (seems to be) nice lady who I believe is named Candace (sp?). She is really a professional at her job and interacts with the crews very well. If she is reading this, NICE JOB CANDACE!
WHen Iam listening to my scanner sometimes I can here the amtrak cprail dispatcher
talking to the trains that are about to cross the KK river bridge or crossing over 1st street
coming into the station.
Greetings from Indianapolis. 
Let me know if I can anser any questions.
CSX Dispatcher:
What lines do you dispatch? If it is Indy - St Louis line then where do the crews change on the run thrus with UP? Do the CSX crews run thru to Salem? Or do the crews change at St. Elmo or Altamont or wherever the interchange is made?
Also, does CSX and CN still interchange trains at Effingham?
thanks
MP173
CSX Dispatcher,
Any chance Indy or Jacksonville is doing any hiring in the near future??? I’ve decided to committ myself if there is ever another opening and it give it a go. Oh, do you work at the same office as the IB dispatcher, I talk to him/her about every two weeks when I work on V500 near Paris, IL, I have to call and get DTC blocks.
Mr. Hemphill, Yes our office is still downtown from union station.
MP173, I dispatch the Indianapolis Line (ID), Toledo Branch (IE), Columbus Line (IF), Cleveland Terminal (IG), and Cleveland East (IH) lines. As far as the St Louis Line goes im not really positive. I know our csx crews go to Salem then change. About the Effingham Im not really positive about the cn change there.
n_stephenson, Yes they are suppose to be hiring about 7 or so dispatchers in the indianapolis office here shortly. I believe they are putting off the hiring for just a little while becuase we are going through rules changes and also they are changing the way we dispatch trains. Yes I work with the (IB) Indianapolis terminal here in our office.
I was also reading one of your previous posts and my biggest petpeve is a train crew asking. On a mainline no less “Is this my signal?” my response “no, its for the train behind you” LOL. It just creeps me out when they ask that.
www.train-dispatchers.com <—basically csx dispatchers fighting.
let me know if any of you have any more questions.
Re: Centralization & Bean Counters.
I majored in Acctg. & passed the CPA exam but stayed in
computers because I couldn’t stand the cut in pay to enter
public accounting.
They teach Bottom Line Fixation in nearly every accounting course,
and that the fastest way to improve it is to cut expenses, and the
quickest way to do that is to reduce labor costs.
The businessman/entrepreneur will work to increase the top line,
Gross Revenue, knowing that this will result in better long term results.
Re: Computers
Been working with computers for 40+ years in nearly every capacity.
They are very good at one thing; Accumulating lots of information,
manipulating it, and presenting it in an easy to understand manner.
They are not good at making decisions as they can only handle
the information they have been programmed to accept. I’m sure that
all the DSes have run into things they wouldn’t have imagined in their worst nightmare but managed to handle it and work around it and keep the trains running.
Computers can’t do that.
Good Luck!
My Uncle is a dispatcher here in Stevens Point WI.
Mark, and others, a fascinating thread. Happened to see this article and was reminded of it as I read this thread. http://rolos.nature.com/news/2004/040802/full/040802-19.html
*** — Yes, a very interesting article!