Sep 22 2009
Telegraph Used to Dispatch Trains
Long long ago, back in the early days of our country, we did not have the convenience of the modern marvel we call the Telephone. Also, there was no internet, television, radio or other means of mass communications that we enjoy today.
Instead, there were smoke signals! No, not quite that far back, but on this day in 1851, the Telegraph was first used to dispatch train schedules. When you wanted to call grandma, you would head on down to the telegraph office and have a telegram sent. Morse code was language of the telegraph. Dits (dots) and dahs (dashes) made up this unique language that worked for many years to provide communications, and is still in use today, although mostly for fun by the amateur radio community.
SOS – the common mayday call for help is sent as …—… or di di di dah dah dah di di di
