03312

Calling all Engines
CHICAGO, ILL. – The familiar phrase, “Calling all cars”, used in police radio, may soon have its counterpart in railroading for two-way communication in high frequencies is now in use for the first time on engines of the Rock Island, Ill., lines. Their present installation of transmitters and receivers, operating at 10 watts in the 40 megacycle band of frequencies, is in use only in the Burr Oak freight yards near Chicago. Now the freight yard master can talk with engineers in switch engines, relaying orders and getting information on the whereabouts of engines. Called WXIOTL, the station has an operating radius of 25 miles. The railroad has FCC permission to install high frequency systems for communication between train engines and cabooses, yard and yard dispatcher and trains.
New York Bureau
Here, the twin 143-HP, Chrysler marine outboards at either end of the stern churning up the sea, the “rhino ferry” heads for shore loaded with motor vehicles and supplies, after loading from a transport.
Credit: (U.S. Navy Photo from ACME)