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When we operate my model railroad, we usually have a train whistle that we blow according to a standard chart of whistle signals.
I am wondering if real trains blow their whistle (or horn) while doing typical switching in the yards, or do they only follow the proper signals while out on the road?
It is a real hassle for us to blow the whistles while switching, so on my N-scale railroad, the rules have changed to only include whistle signals when away from the yard.
What do the real trains do? It seems that with several engines switching simultaneously it would become very nerve-wracking to have the whistles keep sounding. But on the other hand, safety should always be number one in importance.
posted
Trains used to use whistles/horns for signals quite a bit before portable radios came into the picture. Now horns are mostly used when trains get the highball signal (two short blasts), when approaching public crossings (long, long, short, long), bridges, when entering yards, and in a few other cases. If you're modeling steam (and/or) the pre-radio age, maybe you can look up a sight on the Net. A few I've seen have a page of whistle signals for use on and off the main line.
Posts: 553 | From: Flagstaff, AZ USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Now this comes from a non railroader but from what I have seen, the switch engine crew don't use whistle signals (or hand signals for that matter). In some location there are even noice suppression (railroad) rules and city ordinances. Whistle signals are used at our musuem at Pueblo Union Depot but we have a lot of extra personnel in the area.
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