Yeah I only worked on the railroad for five years because I didn't want to go into Railroad Retirement. I was an engineer with SEPTA, then became a tower operator and then went into rail operations at the regional rail Operation Center when it was in Suburban Station. Moved up the line fast because I had a graduate degree in another area. Worked there from 1985 to 1990. SEPTA trains only went to Paoli at that time then every other train would go to Thorndale.
In those days every single Tower was manned with operators who operated the switches in the interlockings and managed the small yards.
And those days we also had temporary block stations at night for track work. It was a good assignment because you only had maybe one Freight at 4 a.m. so you could just put your red board out with your Red Lantern and go to sleep. We used rail phones with a loud ring so if something extra came along it would wake you up. Set your alarm for the freight, give them their train orders, throw the manual switch and cross them over LOL that was the old Book of Rules of course, now it would be a form d. Also crossovers are all remotely electronically-controlled.
