re: #115 Jay C

And weren’t “railroad watches” designed to be more-accurate-than-usual for the time, ‘cuz even a minute or two difference might make for an unfortunate incident?

Exactly.

Trains ran on the same track at different speeds in the same direction, or in opposite directions. “Train Orders” told the crews when and where they had to pull off into a siding to allow another train to pass.

Railroad watches, aka ‘standard watches’ had to run within 30 seconds/2 weeks. Each railroad had its own rules, though they largely overlapped, and a list of models they’d accept. Railroaders had to present their watch every week to an Inspector, who’d note the deviation from his standard clock, and they’d have to have them serviced on a regular basis by the same inspectors. And they were expressly forbidden from setting the time themselves!