Depot - Agents
Depot or station agents had numerous responsibilities. The depot was the center of railroad operations in the town for passengers and freight. First and foremost, the station master, or depot agent, was responsible for correctly transmitting and dispatching train orders. In the book entitled: Tweetsie and the Clinchfield Railroads, author, Clyde Dellinger, took these responsibilities seriously as "negligence or inaccuracy could cause the loss of lives," due to a train accident. Dellinger described the depot as "full days of excitement and seemed as if it had only begun and the day was ended." Depot agents administered every transaction from train orders to ticket sales. Some station managers operated telegraphs. Instead of waiting twenty-two hours for a message, the telegraph made it possible to receive that same missive in twenty-two minutes.
Expectations of railroad employees are listed in the book of operating rules for each railroad. Failure to memorize and act upon these rules while performing duties, without exception, according to Gary Emmert, a 43-year railroad veteran, resulted in serious reprimand or automatic dismissal. An error on the part of the agent could mean the lives of numerous people, as well as the damage or loss of expensive railroad equipment.
A few of the twenty-eight rules listed in the 1943 Edition of the Southern Railway System Book of Operating Rules for depot agents include:
1481. [Agents] are in charge of the Railway's interest at their stations, of its buildings, sidings, side tracks and grounds within the station limits, of the station appliances, equipment, of its accounts and records, of its material and supplies, of all cars at the station except in trains, of the receipt, care, forwarding and delivery of baggage and freight; of the sale of tickets, of the collection of the station revenues, of the remittance or deposit of money; of such disbursements thereof as may be properly authorized; of all station employes [sic] and of other employes while at the station, so far as it relates to their conduct or to the station work. [Agents] must report to the superintendent any matter affecting the interest of the Railway.
1483. [Agents] must make daily inspection of the station premises and see they are in safe and proper condition including protection against fire.
1484. [Agents] must maintain waiting rooms, offices and toilets in proper condition; station platforms and walks free from ice, snow, dirt or obstructions; see that the station grounds and buildings are lighted, waiting rooms heated, provided with drinking water as may be required, and proper information posted on bulletin boards.
1485. Freight or material received or discharged upon the ground must not obstruct the view of the tracks at public crossings and must be clear of all tracks.
1487-88. Cars on sidings must be protected and must clear public crossings and other tracks.
1489. [Agents] must preserve order in and about the station...
1490. [Agents] must cultivate the confidence and good will of the public, extending all proper accomodations conducive to the promotion of cordial relations. They must maintain proper freight and passenger tariffs.
1491. [Agents] must not allow advertising matter posted on the station premises.
1493. [Agents] must when possible, endeavor to induce passengers to purchase tickets before boarding the train.
1498. Before loading cars or assigning them to shippers [Agent] must see that they are in proper condition. Before loading livestock examine the cars carefully, remove protruding nails or spikes and see that the sides, floors, doors and fastenings are in good condition. Special care and attention must be given to the proper handlings of live stock.
1502. [Agents] must not allow advertising matter to be attached to cars.
1503. [Agents] must furnish proper way bills for all shipments.
1504. [Agents] must promptly receive and deliver United States mails at the post-offices...
1505. [Agents] must see that freight and U.S. mail is properly protected at all times.
This telegraph key belonged to William F. Royall, a telegraph operator at the Greeneville Depot in 1917.
See more office equipment used in depots on our Facebook page, or visit the Archives of Appalachia at ETSU, 344 J L Seehorn Road, Sherrod Library, 4th floor, Room 422, to see the physical exhibit entitled "The Depot."