Not important Q but why do trains blow the whistle when nearing a bridge or any other time.?

Question

Not important Q but why do trains blow the whistle when nearing a bridge or any other time.?

Answer 1

so they can let people know they are coming!!DUHHH

Answer 2

In the USA the Federal Railroad Administration requires it.

And because of this the railroads have this as a rule.

Answer 3

As a railroader, the reason we blow the horn before crossing a bridge or tunnel is to annoy anyone around. LOL JK

We blow the horn as advanced warning for hikers, and or animals that are taking a shortcut through across the bridge or through the tunnel. We also have to blow the horn in a long, short, short, short etc when passing men and equipment working on the tracks. because the machines they work on are loud and it's hard to hear a train approaching and we sure dont want them to back up and get hit. even in areas where a whistle ban is in effect, we still blow the whistle when men or equipment are on or near the tracks, and the same goes with a trespasser that decides the quickest way across is to cross the tracks.

Long story short, we blow the horn to protect stupid morons.  

Answer 4

as a warning to anybody near the line

Answer 5

I noticed that on the train the other day

I was in the front carriage and I just assumed that the bell/whistle went when it went past signals or something

Answer 6

In the UK at least, drivers sound the whistle when they pass a "W" sign beside the track.  These are placed where it is important that people on the track or trackside are warned the train is coming, often on the approach to small unmanned crossings such as there are in rural areas - sometimes just a gate either side of the track for farm traffic or a footpath.

Answer 7

There is no specific requirement to sound the horn or whistle when nearing a bridge, but a driver may do so at his own discretion, if he considers it necessary.

A train driver (UK, anyway) needs to sound the horn at a whistle board, subject to the restrictions of the rule book.  This is to provide a warning before a foot or level crossing, or perhaps a tight bend.

It is no longer a requirement to sound the horn on entering a tunnel unless personnel are sighted on the line.  The same applies on exiting a tunnel.  

There are also certain circumstances where the driver will sound the horn to give a specific coded meaning to the signaller.

Answer 8

In the UK there are certain circumstances when a driver must sound the warning horn. Some of these have already been mentioned, but I guess it bears giving a fuller list.

- At a whistle board (normally to warn users of foot crossings where there is poor visibility along the line).

- When you see people on or near the line (e.g. track workers).

- Before passing a signal at danger under authority from the signaller.

- When making movements within a depot, siding or engineering possession.

- When making a movement along a line in the wrong direction for which no signal is provided.

- When passing a location where shunting is taking place on an immediately adjacent line.

- Whenever the driver deems it to be necessary.

The basic premise is that it is there to warn people who may be in danger that there is a moving train in the vicinity. You may have heard it happening near a bridge, but the bridge itself has nothing to do with it.

Libs: If you're a UK resident and have been hearing whistles and bells in the front carriage, you're hearing something completely different. This is the Automatic Warning System (AWS) in the drivers cab that you can hear. If it was the warning horn, you'd very likely hear it the entire length of the train.

Answer 9

So people know to get out of the way and not to cross the tracks.

Answer 10

It's to warn bridge users that in the event of the bridge collapsing, they will be crushed by a speeding train.

Answer 11

As a warning. If someone happened to be on the bridge, they would have enough warning to get to a safe place.

Answer 12

Trains mainly blow their whistle when approaching workers on the line or when approaching crossing points to alert people to their presence as trains can be very quiet.

Answer 13

Because they discovered that knocking on the window wasn't loud enough to be heard.

Answer 14

They whistle where there is a bend in the track to warn anyone who may have strayed onto the tracks.

Answer 15

They whistle where there is an increased chance of anyone being on the line and/or being unable to see the train (e.g Level Crossing, Bridge, Tunnel, Shear/Steep sided cuttings etc), in order to warn anyone on the line and give them time to get off the line. Trains cannot stop very easily, as they have metal wheels on metal rails, thus reducing friction, combined with the weight of the train driving it onwards and in many cases a high speed. The whistle allows people to get clear and avoids an accident.