What are all of the horn signals(for lack of a better word) used in the 1940s just before radio made some of these obsolete? I can remember 2, so add to my list:
(long-long-short-long blasts) grade crossings
(series of short blasts) to warn am\nimals or people on the tracks
What will I use this for? Common knowledge and hoped-for SoundTraxx equipped F units!
Two short blasts – proceeding to move forward from stop.
Three short blasts – proceeding to move backward from stop.
One short blast – Stopped.
Interesting!
I think some of those signals must have been used long past the 40’s and advent of radio. Since getting my diesel horn a couple of months ago, I’ve been using long-long-short-long for grade crossings and short-short when starting my train from a stop. I had no real idea why I was using those signals; it just seemed to be ‘right’ from somewhere deep in my memory.
Since my last regular exposure to diesel horns would have been during the late 60’s or early 70’s, those signals must have still been in use at that time.
[:)]
Here’s a list of ATSF signals http://atsfrr.net/resources/HootGibson/Whistle.htm
Standardized whistle signals were approved by the American Railway Association at least as early as 1915. The most recent (and final) edition of the Consolidated Code of Operating rules, issued in 1980, had 22 standard whistle (or air horn) signals. See Rule 15 of that Code.
The most-commonly used signals are:
__ __ o __ (Approaching public crossing at grade.)
o o (Answer to other signals.)
__ __ (Relese brakes. Proceed.)
__ (When standing, air brakes applied.)
_______ (Appproaching station, junction, railroad crossings at grade and drawbridges.)
o o o (When standing, back.)
o o o o (Call for signals.)
–John
Actually a very good post since more modelers are using sound equipped locomotives. This is great for those that operate trains “Prototype Style”. Whenever I run sound equipped locomotives at the club, I enjoy blowing the horn in the proper sequences.
The ones I use most often are: Grade Crossing, Approaching Station, and Releasing Brakes.[4:-)][tup]