When and how are horns to be used on NEC Boston Providence? Are you supposed to have one short horn when approaching a platform? Are you supposed to give two when departing? What about the Stoughton branch? Do you do the normal long-long-short-long sequence at the grade crossings there? Or is the whole corridor a horn-free, quiet zone (except for those grade crossings in Connecticut where the Acela blows its horn)?
You used to have to sound the horn before leaving Boston South Station; this is no longer required. I don't believe any part of the Stoughton Branch is considered a quiet zone, so do your normal 14L sequence for each crossing. I'm not sure on all the little nuances of that line. Sound horn for any work crews (simulated work crews, of course). You mostly just use the bell in this route (when departing, when approaching a station platform you're going to stop at, when passing a stopped train, when in a tunnel, within Tower 1 interlocking).
A lot of the Amtrak engineers I know will sound the horn when approaching and passing the platform, regardless if they’re stopping or not. This is mainly in California but I’m sure it happens elsewhere, too. While there’s no rules stating that you have to, there’s also no rule stating that you can’t, so it’s really personal preference.
I’ve definitely heard them mulititoot when blowing through Petersburg (not a stop for most ECML Amtraks)
This is interesting info, I've often wondered just when I should be ringing the bell or blowing the horn on a particular route. I've always been doing the one short when arriving and two short before departing thing. DW
Thank you a lot for your input, cActUsjUiCe. I’ve been winging horn usage on Boston Sprinter based on my somewhat limited knowledge of US freight. It’s good to have confirmation about how it’s done in real life.
This is good to know, thanks! Good point! I think I'll use the horn when approaching stations that aren't partially or totally enclosed, in order to protect the hearing of passengers and staff. But those MBTA stops that are all outside - well, I like blowing the horn (I love both the F40 horn and the ACS horn) so now I can do so with a modicum of realism! That makes sense since Petersburg is not part of the NEC and follows CSX rules. However, I know on TriRail and SunRail in Florida they don't use the horn at a lot of grade crossings and stations. So I think there are exceptions based on municipality, corridor, operator, etc. (Then again, the aforementioned operators are not part of CSX, but are state entities.) Indeed, me too!
It's also possible that those routes through heavily developed areas (Miami-Dade and Orlando) fall under Quiet Zone regs. It's true that the "blow at stations" rule is a CSX rule, not a Federal requirement like grade crossings and tunnels.
