In the really old days some short line railroads used a track warrant book with serial numbers printed on the pages. Carbon paper could be used between identical pages for multiple copies of the same order. The printed number was used to identify the track warrent. Expiration time was written on the warrant by the person issuing it or by the Rules of that railroad. Frequently the warrants were good until cancelled by the person issuing it.

I remember reading an accident report where the track warrant had been issued by the secretary of the railroad manager. It was a regular part of her job.