RailForum.com
TrainWeb.com

RAILforum Post New Topic  Post A Reply
my profile | directory login | register | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» RAILforum » Passenger Trains » Amtrak » November 18 Anniversary

   
Author Topic: November 18 Anniversary
yukon11
Full Member
Member # 2997

Member Rated:
5
Icon 1 posted      Profile for yukon11     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
It was on November 18, 1883, that the US changed over to 5 time zones, thanks to input from US and Canadian railroads:

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/11/dayintech_1118

Before 1883, the US had over 100 time zones. If you were on a cross-country train trip, you had to adjust your watch by 1 minute every 12 miles to keep up with the local (sun) time.

FDR had the US on "war time", essentially a permanent Daylight Saving Time, 24 hrs/day. The motive was said to be to conserve oil. I wish they would keep DST year-round.

Richard

Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
George Harris
Full Member
Member # 2077

Member Rated:
4
Icon 1 posted      Profile for George Harris     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by yukon11:Before 1883, the US had over 100 time zones. If you were on a cross-country train trip, you had to adjust your watch by 1 minute every 12 miles to keep up with the local (sun) time.[/QB]
It was far worse than that. Time could vary county by county or even town by town, depending upon what was the designated setter of the time, most usually the county courthouse clock, or the town bank clock. Then if you went to the railroad station, they might be on another time, usually that at the railroad company headquarters. It was common for the railroad to send a time signal over the telegraph lines at noon so that there was a consistent time for their operations.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

Quick Reply
Message:

HTML is not enabled.
UBB Code™ is enabled.

Instant Graemlins
   


Post New Topic  Post A Reply Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Home Page

Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2




Copyright © 2007-2016 TrainWeb, Inc. Top of Page|TrainWeb|About Us|Advertise With Us|Contact Us