One Town, Three Times
In the 1800s, telling time wasn’t as simple as glancing at your phone. Without watches or synchronized clocks, noon could mean three different things—one time by the sun, another by the town square clock, and a third by the railroad. Every city set its own time, so traveling even a few miles could mean adjusting your schedule. With no consistency, train collisions and scheduling chaos were common.
Railroad Time Arrives
On November 18, 1883, American railroads adopted a standard time system to reduce confusion and improve safety. This shift began to change how society viewed time. Factories followed the new schedule, and punch clocks ensured workers started shifts by the second. Although towns initially kept both local and railroad time, standardization slowly spread.
From Bars to Courtrooms
Some resisted the change. One bartender, operating by solar time, stayed open past legal hours. When taken to court, he argued he had six minutes left. The judge disagreed. Over the next decades, local time gave way to national coordination, and in 1918, the U.S. government made standard time official.
In the 1800s, telling time wasn’t simple. You had no phone or watch, but you had to make your noon appointment. Town clocks, railroad schedules, and the sun all gave different times. Cities set their own local time, often differing by minutes—even neighboring towns…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/oMW0PZC5ii
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) April 11, 2025