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Started by bradhig 20 posts 8 min read

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Reading Topic #7798

bradhigMember since Jan-13-04 · 142 posts

Recently I heard a train nearby blow two short whistles any idea what it means?

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RE: Whistles, NS5237, Feb-15-04, 00:52 AM, (1) RE: Whistles, bradhig, Feb-15-04, 00:56 AM, (2) RE: Whistles, Erick_Cantu, Feb-15-04, 01:07 AM, (3) RE: Whistles, ASR_Q301, Feb-15-04, 01:56 AM, (4) RE: Whistles, Erick_Cantu, Feb-15-04, 02:07 AM, (5) RE: Whistles, ASR_Q301, Feb-15-04, 06:57 AM, (6) RE: Whistles, Darkviper01, Feb-15-04, 09:57 AM, (7) RE: Whistles, erniep, Feb-15-04, 10:43 AM, (8) RE: Whistles, Magick_maker, Feb-15-04, 12:39 PM, (9) RE: Whistles, AEM7AC 920, Feb-15-04, 12:42 PM, (10) RE: Whistles, cyclone1234, Feb-15-04, 05:20 PM, (11) RE: Whistles, ASR_Q301, Feb-15-04, 07:21 PM, (12) RE: Whistles, BlakeTyner, Feb-15-04, 08:45 PM, (13) RE: Whistles, bradhig, Feb-15-04, 09:50 PM, (14) RE: Whistles, robertlearmont, Feb-17-04, 06:57 PM, (17) RE: Whistles, fixin2, Feb-16-04, 00:45 AM, (15) RE: Whistles, AEM7AC 920, Feb-17-04, 00:51 AM, (16) RE: Whistles, fixin2, Feb-18-04, 01:11 PM, (19) RE: Whistles, SeanK97, Feb-17-04, 10:17 PM, (18)

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NS5237Member since Oct-6-03 · 70 posts

RE: Whistles

Correct me if I am wrong but they usually blow 2 short blast when they are stopped and about to start moving again.

John - SC MP95

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ASR_Q301Charter Member · 1333 posts

RE: Whistles

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Whistles were used a lot before radios. IE "long long short" would mean brakeman on the end of train etc. Long Long Short Long is used for a grade crossing.Nowdays in the 21st Century, engineers just blow the horn for what ever they want really. Some still might use the old whistle signals for tradion sake. For example, 'Long-Long-Short-Long' is used heaps still in North America for grade crossings.In Australia, drivers sometimes do the old "Long-Short-Long" which was a really popular signal, but I have no idea what it means sorry. A bit before my time! LOL>Mike Forster<
Perth, Western Australiapacificnational_nr103@hotmail.comPrevious Topic | Next Topic – image 13

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Erick_CantuMember since Jan-25-04 · 16 posts

RE: Whistles

Usually I hear the normal --.- but sometimes you'll hear them just hold it and other times it just sounds like they're messing with it to wake everyone up...ah, the joys of living by a crossing...

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ASR_Q301Charter Member · 1333 posts

RE: Whistles

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hehehe, lucky!! Here in WA, ARG just has the normal BLAT of the horn for each crossing. Although a lot of the Pacific National drivers tend to have some fun with the 5 grade crossings through Midland! >Mike Forster<
Perth, Western Australiapacificnational_nr103@hotmail.comPrevious Topic | Next Topic – image 15

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erniepMember since Apr-6-03 · 163 posts

RE: Whistles

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Two short, amongst other things is "answer to signal not otherwise provided for", so could be most anything. During the 1967 Canadian centennial, the whistles on the special Centennial train blew the first four notes of "O Canada" ,the national anthem (in tune) for signal 14L ( _ _ o _ ). That sounded really cool at crossings. cheers,
Ernie

Old switchmen never die, they just pull the pin

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Magick_makerMember since Apr-15-03 · 1141 posts

RE: Whistles

I once heard a NS freight clucking like a chicken. It's engineer was playing with the horn JUST right and it sounded like a huge chicken going through the crossing.With other cases where you hear a LONG single horn, most times the engineer is just being lazy in a situation with like 2 or 3 crossings close together.Down here, there's a couple that will do the old --.- at crossings, but sometimes I think I've heard just single blasts, and one that sounded very much like a steam whistle.

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AEM7AC 920Member since Aug-7-02 · 317 posts

RE: Whistles

Well also different railroads have different horn signals according to the Nordac there are a lot of different meanings for the horn signals.

How do you like your toast?

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ASR_Q301Charter Member · 1333 posts

RE: Whistles

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I have a video where the driver makes the horn on an Australian 442 Class (Alco, 1800hp) sound like a rooster!! The horns on those things are shocking!!I also have a sound clip where there is a million crossings (somewhere in California) where the driver on the SP just has the horn down for about 40 second! >Mike Forster<
Perth, Western Australiapacificnational_nr103@hotmail.comPrevious Topic | Next Topic – image 25

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BlakeTynerCharter Member · 440 posts

RE: Whistles

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2 short blasts means (in most cases) "about to go forward".Amtrak still uses it here, as before moving from a station stop the engineer will give the signal. Blake Harris
Manager/Engineer, Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railway
http://www.jeffersonrailway.comPrevious Topic | Next Topic – image 27

Vice Dean, Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies

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bradhigMember since Jan-13-04 · 142 posts

RE: Whistles

I thought it might have been a warning as the train headed torwards the Larimore Rd grad crossing but maybe thats too far for me to hear a whistle for.

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fixin2Charter Member · 118 posts

RE: Whistles

Two short means 'highball.' If you are about to start a train, (start moving forward) the same two short, although it really should be two long(longer). If you are in a yard, or anywhere for that matter, about to start a train AND you want to attract attention that you will start moving, two long, sometimes very long. Two shorts is also an answer to a hand signal, acknowledging the signal to proceed or continue. Also used to 'wave' to a foamer who has just waved at the engine crew. Basically two short and two longs are interchangeable, they both mean the same thing.

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AEM7AC 920Member since Aug-7-02 · 317 posts

RE: Whistles

Well all of the above is correct but according to the Norac (northeast corridor operating rules two short blasts can mean 1.Acknowledgment of a stop signal other then a fixed signal, or 2.Acknowledgment of any other signal not otherwide provided for.

How do you like your toast?

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fixin2Charter Member · 118 posts

RE: Whistles

WOW railroading sure has changed. Answering a Stop signal with a Proceed whistle. Okaaaay..... When I worked, a Stop signal was answered with a Stop whistle, one blast either long or short, but usually long.
If I was flagging today in the case of an Emergency, For Example say an auto accident on or near the rails to Help the First Responders deal with an oncoming train, AND my washout was answered by the engine crew with a HIGHBALL, I would continue to stand between the rails fratically waving a bigger and bigger washout while being answered with a highball, while all the time scratching my head or other unmentionable body part(s). WOW as I said railroading SURE HAS CHANGED. But those operating rules are from back east up north, maybe that explains it.
Well Done with homemade jam.

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SeanK97Member since Nov-16-03 · 61 posts

RE: Whistles

During the last excursion for the Pere Marquette Berkshire 1225, the engineer used the following whistle blasts to indicate "moving forward from a stop (while switching) with two short blasts, and for reverse it is 3 short blasts. Hope this helps, the 1225 crew (volunteers) do not have many radios, and they use whistle and hand signals to communicate between crew and engineer/fireman. Hope this helps, SeanK97If anyone wants visual proof, I have all of this on video.

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