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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 4 (August 1, 1928)

It Costs 10/5 to Stop a Train

It Costs 10/5 to Stop a Train.

The actual cost of a train stop, including such items as waste of fuel, loss of time, and damage to equipment, is not generally appreciated, even by the employee whose duties are directly concerned with train movements (says the “Railway Age”). For this reason the Missouri-Kansas-Texas has provided in each interlocking tower a sign which conveys the following message in large letters: “It costs $2.50 (10/5) to Stop a Train.” The amount mentioned is a conservative estimate of the average cost of a train stop; in fact, the stopping of heavy trains on an adverse grade will result not only in wasted fuel, but also in delays, especially if a draw-bar is pulled out when attempting to start. The emphasizing of the costs of unsound practices undoubtedly is useful, and may well be employed to influence other employees as well as towermen. Local freight crews and yard crews who are often required to switch on the main line, as well as track foremen, signal maintainers, and bridge crews, would often profit by definite statements of the reason for the importance of avoiding train stops.