Whistle codes?

[signalmaintainer]

American railroads employ a whistle code (examples: two longs, a short, and a long for a grade crossing warning; two shorts for releasing brakes, etc).

 

Do you have something similar there? Never thought about asking this until now.

 

Here's ours. Most are rarely used any longer:

 

– When train is stopped. The air brakes are applied and pressure is equalized.

– – Train releases brakes and proceeds.

o o Acknowledgment of any signal not otherwise provided for.

o o o When train is stopped: means backing up, or acknowledgment of a hand signal to back up.

o o o o Request for a signal to be given or repeated if not understood.

– o o Warning that a second section of a timetabled train is following.

– o o o Instruction for flagman to protect rear of train.

– – – – Flagman return from the west or south.

– – – – – Flagman return from the east or north.

– – o – Train is approaching public grade crossing(s). This is known as Rule 14L in almost all railroad operating rules.

– o Inspect the brake system for leaks or sticking brakes.

[Supaned]

In answer to your question , yes whistle (or horn) codes are still listed in the rulebook :

 

To provide a warning to persons on or near the line (two tone high/low)

To provide a warning at a whistle board at a foot crossing (low tone)

When passing a signal at danger (high tone)

To provide a warning to persons working on or near the line when working in the wrong direction (high tone sounded frequently)

To give the "Train in distress" signal (a series of sharp blasts on the high tone)

To advise a signaller that a train movement is clear of points that need to be moved (ie when shunting)

 

There are also locations listed in the sectional appendix where a local whistle code applies.

 

One example of this is at Alrewas , drivers are required to give : one long and one short blast on the whistle to indicate that they are to be routed towards Birmingham at Lichfield TV Junction , or one long and two short blasts if they are to be routed around the chord line towards Stafford.

 

Hope this is of interest

[The Stationmaster]

The old whistle codes are long gone from Britain and must at one time have numbered in their hundreds - if not thousands. There were some 'standard' ones - in the same sort of way as the diesel horn codes shown in the post above ut there were numerous others which often meant something completely different ina another location as there was a limit to how many times an engine whistle could be blown - the GWR/early WR No.9 Sectional Appendix has 14 (yes, fourteen!) pages of special whistle codes listed in two columns (of around 40 entries per column) per page, i.e approximately 1100 special whistle codes. That was just for the 'Cardiff Valleys' area - probably no more than a couple of hundred route miles in total.

[phil-b259]

On my local heritage railway, two blasts on the whistle indicats the loco is clear of the points and they may be moved, one blast meens the loco is on the move while a top and tail set up uses a different whistle code, repeated by the tail loco before moving off

[signalmaintainer]

Thanks for the replies, all. Very enlightening anwers and of great help.

 

Around 1100 whistle codes -- and I thought I had a lot of work rules to remember!

[melmerby]

The old whistle codes are long gone from Britain and must at one time have numbered in their hundreds - if not thousands. There were some 'standard' ones - in the same sort of way as the diesel horn codes shown in the post above ut there were numerous others which often meant something completely different ina another location as there was a limit to how many times an engine whistle could be blown - the GWR/early WR No.9 Sectional Appendix has 14 (yes, fourteen!) pages of special whistle codes listed in two columns (of around 40 entries per column) per page, i.e approximately 1100 special whistle codes. That was just for the 'Cardiff Valleys' area - probably no more than a couple of hundred route miles in total.

 

That's interesting, the GWR General Appendix 1936 only lists about a dozen!

It also refers to whistles and 'crows' whatever they were.

 

Keith

[The Stationmaster]

That's interesting, the GWR General Appendix 1936 only lists about a dozen!

It also refers to whistles and 'crows' whatever they were.

 

Keith

 

 

As far as I have thus far delved at the time of nationalisation the GWR was using around 20 'standard' whistle codes, i.e. codes which did not apply to specific movements or lines etc at nominated locations.

 

I have never seen 'crow' explained but suspect it must have meant a very long (and probably being sounded slightly differently at some time in that long duration) as it was definitely different from 'long', 'short' or 'short sharp' in the various codes.

 

Presumably now we have DCC sound for steam locos the truly 100% scale modellers with sound equipped locos will be using accurate whistle codes

[Supaned]

A "crow" was explained to me as a fluctuating note on the whistle - this was done by judicious use of the whistle valve , I presume another long lost railway art...

[Blandford1969]

Its easier to do with an Ex Great Westerm whistle rather than an LMS hooter, can't comment on others. Its done as has been said by varying the amount the whislte cord is pulled.