Whistle signals

There's nothing like the sound of a steam whistle. The familiar sound of two long blasts, a short blast and one final long blast on the whistle for a grade or level crossing is engrained in the sub-conscience of many railfans. We just know that signal means a train is coming and we need to stay out of the way. 

Sound decoders have brought so much life to our models and many include a feature to emulate this distinctive whistle sequence with a single button push if you don't feel like playing the whistle yourself. 

Some time ago I was reading an excellent book on the turn of the 19th-century railroading by an engineer, Joseph Bromley called "Clear the tracks". The book is Bromley's memoir of his career as a railroadman. He started as a wiper in the engine house and worked his way up to his position of a senior engineer on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. In one chapter, Bromley recalls a terrible grade crossing accident he was involved in at a crossing with poor visibility. A horse and buggy didn't see his train and the two occupants, and the horses were tragically killed in the accident. 

Bromley was obviously extremely affected by the incident but noted he was convinced he had blown the required whistle signal of two long blasts and two short blasts. The rest of the story is fascinating, including how he was apprehended by the townsfolk, subjected to a mob justice trial and was lucky to escape with his life. However, I was intrigued by Bromley's record of the appropriate whistle signal, which is different from the signal used on American railroads today. I wanted to know if this was just a whistle format peculiar to Bromley's railroad, or if it was widely used. Furthermore, if it was a standard signal, at what point did it change to the format we know today? 

A few years back I asked a question on the Early Rail forum over at the Railroad Line forums and found the community there really helpful. By referring to a variety of railroad rule books from the period, the modellers there determined that Bromley's two long and two short blasts were indeed likely a universal grade crossing signal, at least by the 1880s. Judging by later rule books, it seemed to remain this way until some time during the 1920s, which was later than I expected. 

Other whistle signals appear to have remained the same. However, in days before the widespread use of airbrakes, the one short blast for stopping was used to signal to the brakemen to apply the handbrakes on the cars.

The rule books the forum members posted on the thread make for interesting reading.  If I'm feeling operating authentically, I use the two long and two short blasts for the grade crossings. However, this isn't always the case. I still use the modern signal if I feel like it, it does have that familiarity about it. 

Overall, this was an interesting delve into railroading history. Just another example of why turn-of-the-century railroading can be such a rewarding and fascinating hobby.

Paragraph 349 of the Standard Code of the American Railway Association 1897 contains the required grade crossing whistle signal. Two long, followed by two short blasts. ___ ___ _ _

The dangers of getting new locomotives...

The problem with getting new stuff is your old stuff starts to feel old. Favourite items, having been usurped by a newer item, are used less and less. This is exactly where I found myself after I finished kitbashing my 2-6-0. Very quickly it became my go-to locomotive, which is understandable for a time, after all, it was new; new stuff tends to have a novelty value. However, it slowly dawned on me that I was enjoying this new locomotive because of the Tsunami 2 decoder and the Current Keeper.

My locomotives were either sound value models, with a very cut down version of a Tsunami decoder, or had a first generation Soundtraxx sound decoder that was shipped with the Bachmann 4-6-0 and 4-4-0 Spectrum sound onboard models; a very good decoder, but with some limits.

Thoroughfare Gap Railroad's full fleet. Because its a rare occasion for all the locomotives to be in one location, the company photographer scaled the imposing cliffs outside of Erewhon to take this elevated shot.

Shortly before Christmas, I made the fateful decision to commit to upgrading the remaining five locomotives in my fleet to Tsunami 2 decoders. I knew I would get Current Keepers in the two Bachmann Spectrum locomotives. But I was resigned to continuing to put up with occasional stalls on dirty track and insulated frogs for the two new Bachmann 4-4-0's and the kitbashed 2-8-0. Their small tender sizes probably precluding the installation of a Current Keeper.

I thought I'd knock off the two Spectrum's first. While I was fitting up the first Spectrum, I decided to see if I could fit a current keeper in the new tooling 4-4-0. I was pleasantly surprised that it was a very close thing! I ground out some of the tender shell to create some more clearance using a motor tool, and presto, the current keeper could fit!

Now the cost of my project had just escalated by three current keepers, for I knew I could squeeze them into the other two small locomotives. But the final result was going to be worth it.

I've now finished the upgrades and the whole fleet is using Tsunami 2's with Current Keepers. I spend less time cleaning tracks, though I know it still needs a good clean from time to time. I certainly am not tapping stalled locomotives in frustration anymore.

The lift in enjoyment from the smooth and easy running the Current Keepers provide is a real game changer. Years ago, MRC ran an advertisement encouraging modelers to consider buying one of their power packs instead of a new locomotive to increase enjoyment of the hobby. I feel like Soundtraxx could run the same advert with their Current Keeper. Having a locomotive with a Current Keeper is like having a new locomotive!

So in summary, you can argue the true cost of the 2-6-0 mogul project was the mogul locomotive PLUS six Tsunami 2's and six Current Keepers! Be careful when you embark on new projects, you never know what else you may end up purchasing as a result. Though in this case, I have no regrets.

I'll post another day about how I've configured my Tsunami 2's and some of the great features that drew me to this decoder. I'll also make a post about the Current Keeper, its pros and cons and the drawbacks.