Nostalgia & History > C. L. Kennedy et. al., Southern Pacific dispatchers

Hello all,

I recall from old SP employee timetables that C. L. Kennedy was a long-time SP chief dispatcher, he and H. Jay are listed in the 1978 Western Division ETT.  Might any of the old rails here like to share stories about him and dispatchers in general?  I can only imagine that Kennedy’s on-duty situational awareness must have been phenomenal, I wouldn’t be surprised if his trainorders (and those of some of his colleagues) were works of art.

Thanks in advance!
Oliver Barrett

Charlie Kennedy. I think his classic ending to messages was "see no failure"



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/20 20:33 by WAF.

WAF Wrote:
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> Charlie Kennedy. I think his classic ending to
> messages was "see no failure"

A standard ending on railroad wires that dates back at least to 1900.

Some railroads such as ATSF shortened it to "See no fail".

Best regards,

Rob L.

ShoreLineRoute Wrote:
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> I recall from old SP employee timetables that C.
> L. Kennedy was a long-time SP chief dispatcher, he
> and H. Jay are listed in the 1978 Western Division
> ETT.  I can only imagine that Kennedy’s
> on-duty situational awareness must have been
> phenomenal, I wouldn’t be surprised if his
> trainorders (and those of some of his colleagues)
> were works of art.
>

You are going have to go back a very long time from the tenure of a chief dispatcher to the time whhen he issued train orders. Like 30 years.

Best regards,

Rob L.