I understand you are supposed to stop, look and listen at crossing but shouldn’t the engineer have used the whistle a little bit more? Though I don’t want to come across as second guessing, just curious what others think.
Looks to be overseas? Yes the whistle should be more than a fast toot.
Federal Requirements for Train Horns
Sounding Protocol
Train horns must be sounded for 15-20 seconds before entering public grade crossings. The specific pattern for sounding the horn is:
- Two long blasts
- One short blast
- One long blast
This pattern is repeated as necessary until the locomotive has cleared the crossing.
Purpose of the Regulations
The requirement to sound train horns is mandated by federal regulations to enhance safety at public grade crossings. The use of horns serves as a critical warning to pedestrians and vehicles, helping to prevent accidents.
Compliance and Authority
- The regulations are enforced by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
- Locomotive engineers have the authority to vary the horn pattern in emergency situations or at crossings that are in close proximity to one another.
Impact on Local Laws
Federal regulations preempt any state or local laws regarding the use of train horns at public crossings, ensuring a uniform standard for safety across the nation.
Craig
Penn Central Shops
In the part of Europe where this occurred, the rule is 3 sec blast at a crossing. Here there was barely 1 second, fairly far from the crossing where the collision occurred. Quite a bit of argument about it in the contents, most in German.
Angle of the crossing makes it look like the vehicle had full view of the on coming train.
Whistle was pathetic.
It’s a historic narrow gauge tourist railway in the Harz mountain area in Germany. This train was operated with a class 99 steam engine. The single toot is standard unless the whistler post calls for two toots (Pfeife).