Hi all, wasn’t sure which thread I should’ve posted this question so it’s here. so I’m aware of the purpose of a whistle board, however, I understand that trains are only allowed to use there horns during certain hours of the day. So what do they do at night when they pass a whistle board? Is it necessary enough to sound the horn or not?
Rulebook says whistle board applies 0600-2359. There is no ban to use it been midnight and 0559 however. I would blow it at any time of day to be quite honest. I would also always give a two tone horn as well even though rulebook states only low tone to be used. I might be a bit biased as most/all the whistle boards that I go over are diversionary routes so very rarely go there. But I’m certainly not the only person who does this.
I blast the horn every minute in game and make many tunes, but when it comes to time, I adhere to rulebook timing
I think 'ban' is a bit lenient, 'disallow' would work, as Olaf the Snowman has said, between 0000-0559 is no horn time, 0600-2359 is horn time
What I tend to do is give a two tone in the day and a short, snappy single low tone during night hours. This is my own personal opinion here but the night hours and single tone 'rules' are total nonsense implemented just to please the locals and there is no clear way at all it increases safety but reduces it. I also live next to the railway myself and can tell you now I would much prefer a horn, which with double glazing you can hardly hear, whilst laying in your bed than the public's safety and potentially a colleagues mental health put at risk. Anyway both my rant and career is over so have a lovely evening.
It depends on what era your are in too. I know especially in the uk the rules have changed significantly. For instance in spirit of steam you should be whistling when stopped at a red signal, entering a tunnel, exiting a tunnel, approaching a station at speed and when almost reaching the end of a stationary train your are passing. Then there are whistle codes to be used to communicate with the guard in the brake van so they know whats happening.
Wow I did not know we blew it that much! Most red lights are red for over 5 seconds, which would make for a REALLY long whistle!
Its not used anymore. Sorry I didn’t make it clear but you wouldn’t sound a continuous whistle, just a short one to remind the signaller in his box that you were there waiting. After a period the fireman would have to walk to the box to physically remind the signaller and sign the log-book. There were some nasty crashes where overworked and tired signallers just plainly forgot trains were waiting and signalled fast ones into the same section. The Quintinshill rail disaster is probably the worst example of where the signallers forgot and the fireman failed to adequately remind them.
I believe in recent years in the UK due to some very gruesome accidents at night trains do now use their horns at night, but there are likely still some rules regarding it.
Ever since in knew the purpose of whistle boards in TSW I personally implemented a non emergency use ban on the hours of 22:00-06:00 to ensure residents around the track get the recommended 8 hours sleep without the trains at fault for breaking this
