WCM - Pittsburgh - Typical Daily Schedule - 196(?)
| TIME | CHANNEL | COMPANY | VESSELS |
| - | |||
| 0430 | 5 | J&L Steel | M/V Aliquippa, Vesta, Vulcan, Titan and Shannopin |
| 5 | U.S. Steel | M/V James E. Lose, B.F Fairless and more | |
| 5 | Hillman Barge Line | M/V Mary Lea Hillman, Henry L. Hillman, Patsy Hillman & more | |
| 0500 | 7 | Oil Transport | M/V Frank B. Durant, Bayou Orleans, Bayou LaCombe, Bayou LaFitte and more |
| 0530 | 7 | Ohio Barge Line | Stmr. Orleanian, Stmr. Lunga Point, M/V Steel Ranger, Steel Trader, Steel Forwarder and more |
| 0545 | 7 | Ashland Oil | M/V Allied Ashland, Ashland, Valvoline Pamela D, Peggy Downey, Onward and more |
| 0600 | 7 | Thomas Petroleum Transport | M/V Franklin Pierce, Walter Curley, Jane T, Reba Jane, Beverly Thomas & John B. Hood |
| 0615 | 7 | Union Barge Line | M/V Southern, Eastern , Northern, Peace, Western, Mariner, Navigator and Cap’n Joe |
| 0700 | 7 | Ohio River Company | M/V Queen City, L. Fiore, John Ladd Dean, Harley Branch Jr., and many more |
| 0730 | 7 | Round up of stragglers | Then to channels 6 and 8 for more stragglers |
| 0800 | All position reports & traffic were delivered to company offices by teletype or telephone. Then outgoing morning traffic came in. | ||
| 1030 | 7 | River stages, weather, USCG Notices, Corp of Engineers Bulletins Broadcast along with traffic list | |
| 1130 | 8 | River stages etc. as at 1030 | |
| 1230 | 6 | River stages etc. as at 1030 | |
| 1500 | 8 | Ohio River Co. | Afternoon schedule |
| 1700 | 7-6-8 | Traffic lists and traffic checks from various vessels | |
| 1800 | 7 | Union Barge Line | Evening schedule |
Normally when running schedules
the WCM operator always repeated vessels position. This was
done because the, “listening audience” (company dispatchers , crew
members, family and SWLers) were often unable to hear the boats, only
WCM could. If it wasn't done there were usually a
bunch of telephone inquires.
When not, “on-the-air,”
the operators had to monitor all frequencies, answer phones and
questions, prepare for up-coming schedules, do routine maintenance and
even sweep the floor. The midnight shift operator had the
quietest time but was more involved in equipment maintenance.
Thanks to Frank Deedrick for the
information on this page and for much of the information about WCM
prior to 1979.
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