"Railroad Approved" quartz watches.. 
Harold Clitheroe -- November 29, 2009 09:00PM (Views: 36)
Nice one Ricky, similar to some of the Citizen and Seiko offerings.. As
far as 'RR Approved", well, most Class I railroads stopped having an
"approved" list back in the late 70's. The current spec nowadays
usually calls for a "reliable watch" with "good legibility". Oddly
enough the 24 hour chapter that most of teghse seem to sport, is a
purely Canadian Class I requirement.. Current CROR (Canadian Railroad
Operating Rules) state:
1. TIME
The twenty four (24) hour
system will be used and will be expressed in four digits. The digits
2359 or 0001 will be used to express the time at midnight.
2. WATCHES
Every
conductor, assistant conductor, locomotive engineer, pilot, foreman,
snow plow foreman and such other employees as the company may direct,
shall, when
on duty, use a reliable watch that indicates hours, minutes and seconds and shall;
(i)
be responsible to ensure that it is kept in proper working condition so
that itdoes not reflect a variation of more than thirty seconds in a
twenty four (24)
hour period;
(ii) set it to reflect the correct time if it reflects a variation of more than thirty seconds;
(iii)
before commencing work, compare the time on their watch with a railway
approved time source. Where a railway approved time source is not
accessible,
obtain the correct time from the RTC or by comparing with another
employee who has obtained the correct time. Every crew member
assigned to train, transfer or yard service shall compare the time with one another as soon as possible after commencing work.
In addition, the Canadian Pacific version states:
In
the application of Rule 2, a railway approved watch is a reliable watch
that simultaneously displays hours, minutes, and seconds in the
twenty-four hour system.
Every employee in possession of a valid
certificate of rules qualification shall, when in service connected
with the movement of trains or engines, use a reliable railway
approved watch or clock.
That's where the 24 hour chapter comes into effect. Most Canadian Class I's have a 24 hour spec.
So
technically, your watch meets current spec, but it was never "Approved"
in the true sense of the old days, when a railroad had its own Chief
Timekeeper, and tested and approved watches submitted by watch
companies. In those days, most railroads also issued watches, or made
them available by an employee purchase paln.
As an example, here
is my late 1970;s Rodania, one of the last watches to be officially on
the "approved" list". Note the classic spade hands, of of the
"requriements" to be on the approved list. Despite having no lume, tis
is still a very legible watch, even in poor light.
When I was railroadin' (retired after 34 years "in service" with CPR,
you saw a lot of nice vintage issue "approved" watches around the HQ
offices, but most crews preferred something a bit more rugged when
actually working, Timex Ironman and Casio's were pretty common..
Hope that helps..
Cheers
Harold
That's a beauty, Ricky. 
(n/t)
Mark C. -- November 27, 2009 03:00PM (Views: 21)
Good looking watch! I'd follow your instinct with the black leather strap.
Dre -- November 27, 2009 02:23PM (Views: 24)
Though I find white dial watches are very versatile, it would probably look just as good on a brown / tan leather strap.
)
But I love the styling, and it strikes me as quite a well-built piece
of kit. The specs are modest, sure, with the case being a plated
base-metal affair (with SS snap-in caseback), and non-screwdown crown.
But 'tis quite finely finished indeed, and the movement, a 1-jewel
Miyota, is certainly solid.
Without the benefit of a loupe, you'd be hard-pressed to tell it from NOS. 
I mean, it's comfortable, and work OK I guess.. but I'm thinkin' a nice
black leather strap with deployant is the way to go here? What say you
fashionistas? 
!
