Great Western Coffee Shop

Now, here's a trivial enquiry if ever there was one.

Where I live, to the south of Melksham I regularly hear trains passing.  Sometimes they beep their horns (?) and sometimes I just hear that nice trundling train-on-the-tracks sound.  Now, when we used to have proper trains, you'd hear a delightful whistle to accompany the myriad other wonderful noises that steam engines issued forth.

So, how is that ghastly two-tone flatulent utterance described, that diesel engines sound?!  There used to be lots of track-side signs one could see from the train reading "Whistle"  (there probably still are?) but somehow I can't imagine the train drivers of today being instructed to sound the train's 'whistle'. 

Talking of flatulence, it would give credence to the line in the song that goes 'The runaway train ran down the track and she BLEW'   ;D  Oh dear, trust me to lower the tone of the site.....

Information on 'Noise from the railway (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1030.aspx)' is available on the Network Rail website.  ;)

I think the horn sound is known as 'two tone'

And this is what the modern lineside whistle board looks like:

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/15_10_zpsc63405d1.jpg)

Clicked on the little symbol here and nothing happened.......

I'm sure I shall come across a modern whistle board in my anticipated travels, but thanks anyway, BNM.

The old "sound Whistle" now means "sound Warning"

The reason for the 2 tone is all to do with Doppler shift us humans have difficulty in determining direction and distance of a single tone the 2 tone a high and low note allows us to determine direction and distance, its the same reason fire, police and ambulance use 2 and even multi tone warnings

The reason for the 2 tone is all to do with Doppler shift us humans have difficulty in determining direction and distance of a single tone the 2 tone a high and low note allows us to determine direction and distance, its the same reason fire, police and ambulance use 2 and even multi tone warnings
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A steam train thundering down the track would make more noise than one of the modern-day little diesels, so I suppose a simple whistle was quite adequate in its day.

You may also be interested to read an article on this subject (http://www.deathbyhealthandsafety.co.uk/safetyvalve/sockinit.html) on the 'deathbyhealthandsafety' website.  :P

Rather disappointed by the photo in that article.

Whether it is photoshopped or not it appears to show someone not only standing in the four foot but also having their boot on a piece of railway equipment.  ???

Sorry about that. Original link was somewhat temperamental. Have now re-uploaded the image.

(http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt68/bignosemac/15_10_zpsc63405d1.jpg)

Hmm.  That particular website is run by a couple of people who are both very experienced / qualified in railway safety.  Their style of posting is fairly provocative - and thus thought-provoking.  I commend them - while taking their input with the necessary 'pinch of salt'.  :-X

I did try the link, thanks, but not sure I was reading the right article!  Didn't seem much like bedtime reading to me so I'm afraid I'll give that a miss!

BNM:  Thanks for piccie of trackside sign; it still says W for whistle!

'W' for 'Warning', as Electric train has pointed out.  ;)

BNM.  That is not a 'standard' Whistle sign which has a grey or blue border http://www.railsigns.co.uk/sect15page1/sect15page1.html

Sometime in the 2006-2008 period a decision was made that only the low frequency horn would be sounded at 'whistle boards'.

http://www.rssb.co.uk/Pages/Train_Horns.aspx (http://www.rssb.co.uk/Pages/Train_Horns.aspx)

Well, I don't know what the rssb is, but I am amazed to find so much stuff written about the sounding of train horns (as it seems that's what they're called these days, rather than whistles).

It's a nice idea that a lower-tone horn be used nocturnally, to reduce the disturbance to trackside properties.  However, isn't it the case that if you buy a property near a railway, you will inevitably get some train noises?!  Reminds me a bit about the complaints some village incomers make about bells, when they buy a property next door to a church.  Not to mention all those animals making...... um, rustic sort of noises.

I lived just south of Weston-super-Mare about 14 years ago, where the railway ran fairly close to the rear of the property.  The sound of the train on the tracks I felt was more intrusive than the sounding of the horn, although once indoors, thanks to the blessing of double glazing the noise was hardly noticeable.  As I find here in Melksham.

I used to live near Twyford Station.  It was in the early 1980s when there was frequent industrial action on Sundays over "flexible rostering".  In truth you used to notice when there weren't trains rather than when there were.

It's the Rail Safety and Standards Board, Cynthia: we have a list of acronyms and abbreviations (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/acronyms.html) in a list which is available via a link in the heading panel of this forum.  ;)

Thanks Chris, as soon as I'd hit 'post' I remembered there was a place I could have checked on this.  However, I'm glad you told me; saves me having to look it up!  :D




Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN.  :)

From my mailbox yesterday:


There are two public crossings about a km apart, and returning home on the 18:52 from Swindon, the (low tone) horn was only sounded once on this stretch.  Good reason behind the change, something to report via the Network Rail web site form, or a call to their 24 hour emergency line (latter feels like overkill, but website clear says "call if any issues with level crossing equipment"?

Inputs welcome - I don't want to waste NR time if there's a logical answer.

In view of Network Rail's clear concerns over all aspects of level crossing safety, and foot crossings in particular, I'd be inclined to report the matter to them on their website: they can then decide what (if any) action they should take.

I agree that it's not an issue with 'level crossing equipment', so it probably doesn't justify using their emergency telephone helpline.

Both Network Rail and the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) have, despite their concerns of level crossing safety, looked at ways to reduce use of train horns. I believe many whistle boards have been removed.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1030.aspx
http://www.rssb.co.uk/standards-and-the-rail-industry/train-horn-noise

A quite staggering amount of further reading at that second link. The issue has certainly been thoroughly looked into.

I live around a mile from St Philips depot. Most of the time, I hear nothing from there, but if there is just a slight wind from a certain direction, and if I am awake in the wee small hours, I will hear an occasional very truncated parp of a horn,an almost apologetic toot. I assume that regulations stipulate some noise must be made when moving off, no matter what time of day or night?

You're quite sure it doesn't emanate from Mrs FT, N!?

Quite sure. It's a semitone lower.

Then that would be a furp rather than a parp?!

In, er, part.

As a retail delivery driver, I am given a similar requirement by my employer when checking the roadworthiness of any vehicle I am about to use:

"Windscreen wipers, washers, horn ... and instruments all working correctly"

I choose to test my 'audible warning device' soon after I've actually left my branch - if only because our loading bay is directly opposite the local Methodist Church, and I'm not sure they'd appreciate horns going off, every few minutes, while we drivers change shifts.  ::) :o ;D

The question, then, is whether the sounding of the audible warning device at a time when the use of a car horn would be prohibited is a matter of test or required before moving off.