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Gregg Simplified Shorthand Practice:
A Day at the Railroad Office
(589 Words) I arrive at the railroad office a little before eight and begin the day's work at once. The first mail is on my desk, and there are several letters from the main office, the division office, and the local stations. I read each letter carefully and make a note of anything that needs an answer. One letter asks for a report on freight service, another concerns the movement of cars, and a third asks when the next train will arrive. Before nine o'clock I go over the day's schedule with the chief clerk. We check the train numbers, arrival and departure times, and the cars that are to be moved from one yard to another. A change in the schedule has been made, and I must send the new information to the stations at once. I prepare a short notice and give it to the stenographer, who takes it down and makes several copies. The telephone rings while we are working. The agent at a nearby station wants to know whether a shipment of freight may be held until the afternoon train. I tell him that I will check with the transportation department and let him know. A few minutes later I have the answer. The shipment may be held, but the agent must report the number of cars and the reason for the delay. At ten o'clock the superintendent calls a meeting of the office staff. We discuss the work of the previous day and the plans for today. The superintendent wants a report on delayed freight, the condition of several cars, and the amount of business handled by each station. He also asks us to watch the cost of operation and to see that every office receives the information it needs. After the meeting I prepare the reports. Some figures come from the accounting office, some from the freight office, and some from the train dispatcher's records. I compare the figures with those in yesterday's report. If there is a difference, I check the original record before making any change. Accuracy is important, because these reports are used by the division office in planning the work of the railroad. At noon there is still much to do. A messenger brings several papers that require my attention. I sign the ones that are ready, return two for correction, and put the others in a file for the superintendent. I then answer letters from three stations. One asks about a new freight rate; another needs information about a car that has not arrived; and the third asks for a copy of an earlier report. The afternoon is spent mostly on correspondence and records. I dictate several letters, concerning freight movements and operating plans. I also make a list of matters that must be brought before the superintendent tomorrow. Before I leave, I check the incoming mail once more and make sure that urgent messages have been sent to the proper offices. At the end of the day I look over my desk. The reports are complete, the letters have been answered, and the files are in order. The work of a railroad office may seem quiet compared with the work in the yards or on the trains, but good transportation depends on accurate records, clear instructions, and prompt communication. If the office does its work well, the trains can move on time and the railroad can serve its customers efficiently. I close the files, turn off the light, and leave the office ready to begin another busy day tomorrow.