Railfan Technology > Dispatcher Link

Would someone explain to me what is the function of the dispatcher link.

I was looking thru some timetables--specifically in the PNW

Are these channels worth scanning?

Thanks
Dale Smith

It was usually a VHF or UHF radio link for the dispatcher's radio to a remote transmitter site instead of the microwave links used these days. DRGW had several of them that allowed us to listen from Denver all the way to the Moffatt Tunnel and another one west of the tunnel. Some of those links may still be active west of Glenwood Springs over towards Helper, UT. It sure made it easier to listen to the dispatcher on lines where they were used.

The DRGW used AAR Channel 23 (160.455 MHz) on the Front Range from Rocky siding to the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel (and still does). C&NW used the same frequency for their portion of the coal line in Wyoming after it was first constructed. When conditions were right, you could listen to the C&NW Coal Line on the DRGW's Front Range repeater due to skip...

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

The SP had them also in Oregon. Mary's Peak comes to mind NW of Eugene. The advantage to them was that the conversation was always clear on both ends, and MOW forces used them to talk to the DS about such things as upcoming movements, if any. That info would be advantageous to photo/videographers.