RAILROAD DETECTIVE WORK
Railroad companies suffer tremendous losses yearly in spite of the fact
that vast sums are continually being spent to guard against theft by
employees, thefts by car thieves, damage suits, etc. As to the first
mentioned source of loss railroad companies are obliged to maintain at
their freight yards and terminals large forces of detectives to guard
against thefts. Although not generally known to persons outside of
railroad circles, it is a fact that many roads employ an average of
fifty detectives for every hundred miles of their systems. The large
railroads nowadays are policed in much the same manner as are our large
cities.
Besides guarding against thefts of valuable freight while in transit,
patrons at the crowded stations and depots must be protected so far
as possible from the operations of pickpockets, swindlers and baggage
thieves. The smaller stations along the line where there are ticket
offices must be guarded against attacks by burglars. Practically all
large railroads maintain staffs of detectives whose duties are to
travel over the lines and do what is called checking. Manipulation of
tickets and cash fares is usually prevalent and no doubt will always be
so long as we have railroads and conductors.
Trains are checked at regular intervals unknown to train crews. Action
of train crews while on duty are reported on by detectives; also the
kind of service accorded patrons of dining, parlor and sleeping cars.
In these days when competition is keen, and when railroads are vying
with each other to furnish the best possible service, it is important
to managements to know to a certainty if conductors and other employees
are courteous and obliging to patrons, if any rules of the company are
being disregarded, and, as a whole, if the kind of service that it is
intended to give is being given.
Checking passenger trains is one of the most congenial branches of
detective work, and a branch which gives the young detective plenty
of valuable experience. This branch of railroad detective work being
the most desirable, I will endeavor to show what managements usually
expect from their detectives. The detective may be detailed to check
a sleeping car on some particular line from the time of departure of
the car from some given point in the evening until it arrives at its
destination in the morning. The detective's report will be expected to
contain information about as follows:
Name of the conductor in charge of the car; if the crew got out at
stations to assist passengers to board or alight; if the stepping
box was properly placed for passengers; if assistance was given
with baggage; if the conductor and porter were wearing their proper
uniforms; if uniforms were neat, and if the conductor and porter
were courteous to passengers. If the car was properly cleaned and
dusted; if the porter unnecessarily disturbed the passengers in any
way; if all berths were made up properly, and if properly closed in
the morning; if the window shades worked properly; if hammocks were
properly hung in berths; if the linen was clean and the lights in good
order; if the lights were turned out at the proper hour; if any persons
at stations disturbed passengers; if any of the crew loafed in any
unoccupied berths. If there were any complaints by passengers and if
the complaints were attended to. If ventilation was good and proper
temperatures maintained; if any of the crew slept while on duty; if the
water and towel supply was proper and sufficient; if there were any
accidents during the trip; if porter had shoes properly polished.
If passengers were properly brushed by the porter; if any of the crew
acted familiarly with passengers; if any of the crew smoked while on
duty; if tickets were collected promptly by the conductor, and if
railway and hotel guides were in proper places. In addition to the
foregoing the detective usually is required to report on how many
berths were occupied in the car, the number of men and number of women
passengers, children if any, also how many cash fares were collected
by the conductor for berths. When reporting on dining car service
detectives usually are expected to cover in their reports the following:
If crew was polite and efficient; if conductor was properly uniformed,
amount of the detective's check and its number; if linen was in good
condition and clean; if tables were properly set; if food was of good
quality. If waiters were properly uniformed; if finger bowls were
promptly and correctly served; if dining car was properly ventilated
and lighted; if liquor was served on the car; if silver was in good
condition and prompt service given. The articles of food and drink
ordered by the detective should be shown, the number of the table at
which he sat, the number of the waiter who served him, the number of
the car, the time he left the car, the number of the train, its time of
departure and arrival, and between what points traveled.
With such daily reports placed in their hands, persons responsible
to the managements for proper maintenance of sleeping and dining car
service are enabled to know precisely the kind of service that is being
given patrons, which information enables them to keep such service to
the highest standard of efficiency. Employees often, when coming in
from a run, are summarily discharged, or their resignations may be
asked for, but that is another matter; railroads need and must have
detectives. It will be seen that the railroads offer a very broad field
for detectives, and there is no reason why any young man with good
common sense should not be able to properly check a sleeping or dining
car on his first attempt.