Does each train engineer have there own specfic warning horn signal?

Question

Does each train engineer have there own specfic warning horn signal?

Answer 1

NO rule book.

All singals by horn are governed by the code and the rule book.

You cannot be a free agent.

Rail workers on the track - police. cleaning staff must  know the commands.

So to answer you no.

Policy is to follow the rule to the book.

Or lose your job.

Answer 2

In the USA, whistle/ horn signals are standardize by the rule-books...

However, as someone else pointed out... engineers CAN have a "signature" in the way they blow those signals.  Just as you can tell two singers apart by their voices, you can often tell engineer's apart by their "voice".

There are THREE CALTRAIN engineers who have unique signatures on their horns.

Answer 3

Engineers have to follow the long-long-short-long policy, but there are such things as quilling and feathering. The engineer can put some voice into the blasts by tapering their volume, sounding only part of the manifold, or any number of little tricks. It does have to stay within the rules, which can make the variations pretty subtle. Still, you can often tell who's at the throttle by the way they pull the horn.

Answer 4

You picked a good time to ask this question, as it is the subject of a recent blog post.  Just click on HOGHEAD and visit the site.  Go to the blog and scroll down to "Since You Asked......"

A lot of us do have a "signature" whistle signal we use when passing near our own homes or homes of friends when we want to announce when we're coming into town.  Mine was two longs and three shorts.  Though prohibited by the rules, some of us do it anyway...........

Addendum:

Someone hasn't read the blog.  There is latitude for whistle use in the good ol' rule book.  Nondescript, it is the first prescribed whistle signal:

"(1)........Succession of short sounds."  [engineer's choice]

"Indication:.........Use when an emergency exists, or person or livestock are on the track.  When crews on other trains hear this signal, they must stop until it is safe to proceed."

No one uses their signature, if they have one, anywhere near another train.  I've been around the rails for a while, and I have never heard of anyone being disciplined for whistle use.  It is quite the contrary when one fails to blow the required whistle signal.

Answer 5

These horn blasts were decided upon years ago in the days of steam.

Its how the headend communicated with the rear end in the days when radios did not exsist.

The Rat

Answer 6

The whistle signals are left over from steam days and are now proscribed in the General Code Of Operating Rules that most railroads follow.  Those who don't don't derviate on horn signals.

Answer 7

The first fella said it great! It sounds like what I'v been told.

Answer 8

The standard grade crossing warning is a series of blasts as follows: Long Long Short Long.  The last long blast is held out until the front of the locomotive is off of the crossing.  They typically start blowing the horn 20 seconds before a grade crossing.  This is accepted on the Class 1 railroads and most shortlines and regionals.  Also, two short blasts indicate forward movement is about to occur, whereas three short blasts indicate reverse movement.  Some engineers still use one long blast to signify that brakes are applied and the train is stopped.  The forward and reverse signals are often unused when switching because they would be used to frequently.

Answer 9

All whistle signals are strictly spelled out in the rule books and subject to discipline if not adhered to. There is a bit of individualism but not like in the "old days" LOL.

Answer 10

No. Each railroad follows a set of signals as set by a governmental branch, such as the Association of American Railroads.