How Big Were Whistle / Sound Whistle Boards

[Jon Harbour]

G'day Everyone,

 

Just wanted to check what were the likely sizes of the signs used in the steam era that said "Whistle" or "SW".

 

Would the letters on the sign be about two foot tall, or would they be smaller?

[The Johnster]

My 4mm GW/BR(W) type SW board is 10mm wide by 6mm high, letters  approximately 4mm high.  So, 2'6"x 1'6', letters about a foot.  Visible and readable from about 300 yards in daylight, useless at night!  Ball park 10 seconds to read it at 60mph, 7 and a half at 90, not an overgenerous amount of time but the whistle had to be close enough to be  heard clearly from the crossing in all weathers.  You Sounded the Whistle when you were at or close to the board, sited to enable anyone on the crossing to hear it and have time to clear the crossing at the maximum line speed at that location, mostly farm occupation or public footpath ungated crossings without telephone connection to signal boxes.  You crossed at your own risk., and notices warned you of the dangers as well as the penalty for trespassing on the railway (death commuted to 40 shillings if you survived).

Edited January 21, 2021 by The Johnster

[keefer]

No dimensions given, but a pic here:

http://www.railsigns.uk/photos/p_whistle1/p_whistle1.html#pic_gwrsw