If an atomic clock is not available, who must the employee contact for the correct time?

• A. Trainmaster
• B. Control center
• C. Dispatcher or Assistant Chief Dispatcher
• D. Office clerk

Answer: (C)

The fundamental idea is that the official railroad time comes from the dispatcher. If the atomic clock isn’t available, you must contact the dispatcher or assistant chief dispatcher to obtain the correct time. They are the authority for time in train operations, ensuring all crews, signals, and orders are using a single, standard reference. A trainmaster handles operations oversight, but they’re not the designated time source; a control center is part of dispatching but the rule points to the dispatcher or assistant chief dispatcher as the source; an office clerk isn’t responsible for providing official time. So the dispatcher or assistant chief dispatcher is the correct person to contact for the accurate time.