Is there a significance to the number of train whistles it blows before it comes to a crossing?

Question

Is there a significance to the number of train whistles it blows before it comes to a crossing?

Answer 1

Above answers are absolutely correct, there is quite a large segment in our rule book regarding whistle signals and it is very rigidly controlled.

There isn't an engineer out there that wishes to blow the d**n thing as much as we do, it is law and we are subject to very strict discipline if we dont comply.

Back in the "good old days" before portable walkie talkie radios communicating was done by whistle signal and you could instruct your train crew in many different functions from quite a distance by the sequence and duration of whistle signals.

Good question, very observant.

Answer 2

Yep.  The more a train blows, the higher the odds the conductor has hit someone on the track and doesn't want to do it again.

Answer 3

Yep, the standard sequence is long-long-short-long, and you hold the last blast until the locomotive or leading car is either fully occupying or clear of the crossing. In the rule book, that's expressed as (- - o -). Some engineers are courteous at night, and the sequence ends up more like short-short-really short-short.

Answer 4

Yes we have different whistle signals for different things.A standard crossing whistle is 2 longs a short and another long blast

Answer 5

it is a requirement that we blow the whistle a certain amount of time, and in the correct sequence. (it's a law) even if there are no cars stopped or coming up to the tracks, we still have to blow.

The only times that we are relieved of that is if there is someone of our crew protecting the crossing or if there is a 'quiet zone' in effect.

a quiet zone is where the crossing itself has the horn and directs it toward the traffic, and does not have to be near as loud as the train whistle.

http://fogchart.com/Down/BNSF/gcor_rev07...

look up rule 5.8.2

Answer 6

I hope so. I'd hate to think that I get woke up at 4:30 every morning for nothing. When you find out the answer to this question find out why they have to blow that whistle so early in the morning while they run through town. We have a crossing arm and signal.