motorbreath
Earth Rocker
I have seen several of these around North Georgia. Does anyone know what this sign tells the crew? Is it Morse code? Some horn pattern?
Last edited:
What Does This Norfolk Southern Sign Mean?
- Thread starter motorbreath
- Start date
cascaderailroad
New member
Yup...you guessed it...horn pattern...2 long, 1 short, 1 long
motorbreath
Earth Rocker
I wonder why they do that. I think the general public, for whom the mentioned blast pattern is intended for really just hears a loud freaking train. Why should it matter if they perform any specific horn pattern? I'm sure there is a reason, I just don't get it.
cascaderailroad
New member
Rules...are Rules...you will be assimulated
It is a Company rule ! If an engineer doesn't follow a written company rule to the "T", and was fooling around playing nonsensical self made up melodies like: "Shave and a Haircut 2 Bits" on the horn, at a crossing, and struck someone, it would be an extreme violation of company rule. It is a company standard, that has been scientifically and psychologically tested that, 2 long drawn out blasts get drivers and pedestrians attention, followed by a sharp short blast, and another loud long blast that gives a final fair warning. Listeners also remember the pattern and can tell that it is a train...and not a garbage or dump truck. An RR engineer, or truck driver, can recieve a traffic violation ticket from State and local police, for operating a horn without following the specific stadards, and can get speeding tickets also by cops using radar speed guns ! Some engineers might wave, but will not blow the horn, as you wave back, as this too is a company infraction of improper use of a company horn, a policy physically spelled out by the FRA and also in the RR's book of rules.
Also...State law in PA forbids any bell, air horn, or whistle to be installed, or operated on an automoble or non-commercial truck, and you can be fined or face impoundment of a vehicle for attempting to simulate a train, or truck warning device, by blowing it on your private vehicle .
Edit: Florida law can be enforced also...air horns are illegal in most US States for private use. Most States spell it out: "a horn or other warning device shall not emit an unreasonably loud (decible rating) or harsh sound or a whistle". If you (scare someone) cause an accident, fatality, or heart attack by use of an excessivly loud air horn, you could be charged. As for Harley shops selling Air Horns: Fireworks are illegal to use in Ohio... but you can purchase them there.
After market air horns are non-OEM compliant, as are, self installed overly dark tinted windshields...any such non-OEM self installed device, whether it be installed by a non-licenced repair shop (and licenced too) persons can be held accountable for injuries, accidents, and deaths to users and pedestrians with the use of any such non-OEM device. Blow an after market non-OEM self installed air horn it at a cop...see what happens to you ! Deliberately disturbing the peace, risking a catstrophy, or terrorism by hoodlum negligent acts, can be enforced by local police municipalities, or individual State laws may also provide legal penalties.
Rules are made...to be followed...there are thoughts behind the making of every rule
In Morse Code it would either represent: TTET or the letter"Q" , or perhaps the symbol " ! " which is: __ __ __ _
http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/funfacts/signals.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Morse_code
http://images.google.com/images?q=m...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CB8QsAQwAw
It is a Company rule ! If an engineer doesn't follow a written company rule to the "T", and was fooling around playing nonsensical self made up melodies like: "Shave and a Haircut 2 Bits" on the horn, at a crossing, and struck someone, it would be an extreme violation of company rule. It is a company standard, that has been scientifically and psychologically tested that, 2 long drawn out blasts get drivers and pedestrians attention, followed by a sharp short blast, and another loud long blast that gives a final fair warning. Listeners also remember the pattern and can tell that it is a train...and not a garbage or dump truck. An RR engineer, or truck driver, can recieve a traffic violation ticket from State and local police, for operating a horn without following the specific stadards, and can get speeding tickets also by cops using radar speed guns ! Some engineers might wave, but will not blow the horn, as you wave back, as this too is a company infraction of improper use of a company horn, a policy physically spelled out by the FRA and also in the RR's book of rules.
Also...State law in PA forbids any bell, air horn, or whistle to be installed, or operated on an automoble or non-commercial truck, and you can be fined or face impoundment of a vehicle for attempting to simulate a train, or truck warning device, by blowing it on your private vehicle .
Edit: Florida law can be enforced also...air horns are illegal in most US States for private use. Most States spell it out: "a horn or other warning device shall not emit an unreasonably loud (decible rating) or harsh sound or a whistle". If you (scare someone) cause an accident, fatality, or heart attack by use of an excessivly loud air horn, you could be charged. As for Harley shops selling Air Horns: Fireworks are illegal to use in Ohio... but you can purchase them there.
After market air horns are non-OEM compliant, as are, self installed overly dark tinted windshields...any such non-OEM self installed device, whether it be installed by a non-licenced repair shop (and licenced too) persons can be held accountable for injuries, accidents, and deaths to users and pedestrians with the use of any such non-OEM device. Blow an after market non-OEM self installed air horn it at a cop...see what happens to you ! Deliberately disturbing the peace, risking a catstrophy, or terrorism by hoodlum negligent acts, can be enforced by local police municipalities, or individual State laws may also provide legal penalties.
Rules are made...to be followed...there are thoughts behind the making of every rule
In Morse Code it would either represent: TTET or the letter"Q" , or perhaps the symbol " ! " which is: __ __ __ _
http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/funfacts/signals.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Morse_code
http://images.google.com/images?q=m...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CB8QsAQwAw
Last edited:
That's a Southern Railway whistle post. Long, Long, Short, Long. Originally they were cast aluminum and all over the system, but then they started making them like modern highway signs. If you look around you might be able to see a cast one still up at a crossing. We have a model of the cast aluminum sign available at East Coast Trainz.
cascaderailroad
New member
I Like It...I like it Alot ! (a line from Robocop movie)
What about controlled level crossings with lights and gates? In our city after 10PM the noise bylaw prohibits the use of the horns at these crossings within the city limits, as a matter of fact all new crossings with gates can only sound the bells as the gates are lowering, after thay are down the bells stop in residential areas.
engineers blow the horn in different circumstances. three long blast mean backing up, while two short blast mean moving forward. some of these signals don't really pertain much anymore due to the fact of radios and such, but back in the days before radios the engineer would blow the horn (ie three toots) to let his crew know what he was doing. the horn procedure for the xings was probably put forward by the FRA and adopted by railroads as a universal procedure for xings. anyway, thats what i got when i saw that sign.
illinoiscentral
SARM Volunteer
Motorbreath,
There are several horn signals with various purposes.
Long, Long, Short, Long last blast must continue until train fully occupies crossing, by Federal law, this horn signal may last a minimum of 15 seconds, and a maximum of 20 seconds.
Short, Short is the signal used to indicate that the train has shifted into forward and has the intention to proceed forward. This signal is also used to signal back to the conductor or flagman when the engineer acknowledges a radio or hand signal.
Short : Used to signal a complete stop.
Short, Short, Short : Three short blasts of the horn signal that the train has shifted into reverse, with the intention to proceed in the reverse direction.
Short, Short, Short, Short, Short ; This signal is sometimes used to warn animals or people close to the tracks that the train is approaching.
There is probably more, however these are what I can think of, hope this helps you run things more accurately.
Cheers,
Woody
There are several horn signals with various purposes.
Long, Long, Short, Long last blast must continue until train fully occupies crossing, by Federal law, this horn signal may last a minimum of 15 seconds, and a maximum of 20 seconds.
Short, Short is the signal used to indicate that the train has shifted into forward and has the intention to proceed forward. This signal is also used to signal back to the conductor or flagman when the engineer acknowledges a radio or hand signal.
Short : Used to signal a complete stop.
Short, Short, Short : Three short blasts of the horn signal that the train has shifted into reverse, with the intention to proceed in the reverse direction.
Short, Short, Short, Short, Short ; This signal is sometimes used to warn animals or people close to the tracks that the train is approaching.
There is probably more, however these are what I can think of, hope this helps you run things more accurately.
Cheers,
Woody
I really wish this were true for my area. About, say, half a mile down the road is an NS track. On any clear night it'll just keep you awake. On a foggy night the sound is so intense you feel the thing is in your back yard. It's driven me to a bad night's sleep before.
Cheers,
John
motorbreath
Earth Rocker
Ok, thanks to everyone for the replies. I did try to Google train signs and signal etc, with no luck. I guess the reason I was perplexed as to the meaning of the signs was because there are also standard "W" whistle posts along the same tracks. The line is former Southern track in Commerce, Ga which is of course NS now. They do look like cast aluminum, kind of shaped like a boat oar. I just didn't get that detailed in my quick little drawing.
Surprised now one posted the sound "Here....Comes....the Train"
One of the most wonderful sounds coming out of a 5 chime D&RGW standard steam whistle
This signal has been in use for well over 100 years. Most signage is just a "W" but several railroads have at least one, if not several variations of the crossing signal.
Some area's require that the train DOES NOT sound its horn, but requires crossings to have all the fancy bells at whistles anyway, inculding very strong booms to prevent idiots from trying to go around
One of the most wonderful sounds coming out of a 5 chime D&RGW standard steam whistle
This signal has been in use for well over 100 years. Most signage is just a "W" but several railroads have at least one, if not several variations of the crossing signal.
Some area's require that the train DOES NOT sound its horn, but requires crossings to have all the fancy bells at whistles anyway, inculding very strong booms to prevent idiots from trying to go around
Last edited:
Hmm, Safety reasons,maybe it would help if there were crossings involved that drivers should start paying attention to the sounds of trains and stop trying to beat them,that results in damage and fatalities because of such actions!
I saw a video once of a narrow gauge tourist train in Europe, steam powered, there was an open gondula behind the engine, giving the front passenger car a good view from the video camera. As the train came to a crossing, a Blue BMW stopped, but what looked like a Silver Prius bolted around the stopped BMW, and across the crossing, almost made it, but got hit in the right rear hard, and went spinning into a ditch. The train stopped within a few hundred feet.
This is pretty typical of crossing accidents. Stupid people thinking that their rush to do whatever they are doing is more important then paying attention. Many pay with their lives. And I don't care what those "invenstgation" news programs say, most crossing accidents are caused by inpatient drivers, not by faulty equipment. Look, Listen, Live, thats the motto of Operation Life Saver, you can hear a train horn quite a long ways away.
I know what its like for engineers to have to hit the brakes hard and wonder if your going to stop in time. I had a switch flip on me once at work, almost made a new entrance to the train shed, filled with the cars for the steam train, and two 107 year old locomotives. Thankfully it only happened once. The really scary one was when the train derailed on a corner, I thought I was going to walk back and find the cars halfway off the track. Thankfully it was just a single axle, but it made for a bumpy ride, even in the locomotive two cars ahead, for that 50 feet or so it was off