Even though I have been a longtime reader of ‘Trains’, some small signs along railroad tracks puzzle me. What is the significance of a small white diamond shaped sign with a W on it, and a yellow pennant shaped sign. Both of these are close to crossings.
The W sign is a whistle post where the engineer is expected to start sounding for the approacing road crossing at grade.
I am not familiar with the yellow pennant on my carrier.
The “whistle board” will be about a quarter mile out from the crossing. The actual appearance varies from railroad to railroad - some have a full post, some just a plate with a W, and at least one showed the appropriate signal graphically.
I’ve also seen a plate with “MX” meaning multiple crossings.
The pennant shaped sign may be the modern version of flanger signs. If so, they will be just a short distance from the crossing.
Flanger sign is the most likely sign for what’s being called a pennant. (Might also be a speed zone sign if the pennant is somewhat larger with a number (speed in MPH) on it.) Flanger sign means raise the plow blade, before you hit a crossing or switch with the plow skimming allong the top of tie)
No two railroads have quite the same sign standard, so it helps to know which railroad. If that diamond shaped sign has an “S” on it, you’re looking at a facing point switch in about a mile.
Can you give us a region/railroad?
Of course, it often happens that a given line changes owners via mergers/spin-offs but the signage remains from the old railroad…
It’s evidently not Union Pacific, as UP whistle-boards have an “X”.
So, since it’s not on UP, I won’t tell you that UP speed-restriction boards are downward-pointing yellow arrows with one or two speed limits on them, and that resume-speed boards are upward-pointing green arrows.
For years, the Southern Railway System used a tall sign with two broad black stripes, a large black dot, and a third broad black stripe to indicate that a public crossing was ahead. However, these have been replaced on some divisions with a sign that shows the letter “W”–and the shape of the sign reminds me of the whistle posts the N&W used.
I’ve seen that situation in several places, along with the appropriate special instructions in the employee timetable.
One sign that I found to be interesting was the little stop sign (not 8-sided) that was posted at Brighton Park before the interlocking was installed.
Check out this collection of whistle signs:
From this “Classic Toy Trains” thread:
http://cs.trains.com/ctt/f/95/p/247117/2755271.aspx#2755271
- Paul North.
I really like the third and fourth ones in the first row–a VERY old Southern, and a more contemporary Southern.
I di not like the IC whistleposts: they were the same size and shape as the mileposts–and I could not tell the difference between them as the sun went down, so I had to give the cord back to the engineer lest I blow for a milepost.
Lot of Pennsylvania RR signs of various types and applications scattered through this list:
http://prr.railfan.net/standards/standards.cgi
- Paul North.
The “W” on the sign requires the engineer to sound the horn for the upcoming RR crossing, if not restricted by a “Quiet zone”. The yellow triangle would have speed limits for passanger trains and freight trains posted starting at the sign. Or for other warnings depending on the individual RR operating rules.
I have another question on RR signage. On the BNSF line in Big Rock,IL is a rectangual white with black letters sign that reads “MDRED” this is at a long passing siding in the town limits, I believe this alignment is still in the Chicago district or maybe the Aurora sub.
Are you sure that “D” isn’t an “O”? There is a siding station “Mored” located not too far from the railroad’s “Big Rock” siding (MP 58.0 for Mored, MP 50.2 for Big Rock).
Maybe they made the sign on a Monday.
Jeff
Most New England roads had flanger signs on both sides of an obstruction - One blade means lift the flanger blade, two mean OK to drop blade. Sign on right side of track in direction of train movement. Flangers remain in use, though not all lines have flanger signals.
You are right XJQCF, the “D” is an “O”. Viewing the RR from Route US-30 is not the best viewing angel. Will leave the answer at that.Thank you for the reply.