Whistles mean safety

Every railroad whistle you hear, even from a diesel, is a means for the engine crew to communicate to the conductor and to you. Not only do the sounds have specific meaning, they also tell crews the position of the locomotive. Whistles provide safety for you and the railroad employees.

Railroad whistles were standardized in the 1880s and 90s. Several of the nation's worst collisions happened because crews of conflicting trains were unaware of each other. Using signals helped make railroading one of the safest modes of transportation in the world.

Like the Morse code from which they were originally derived, whistle signals consist of long and short toots in controlled patterns. Regional and individual railroads have whistle enhancements but they use the universal signals for safety.

In the old days, whistles were resonating brass "cups" into which steam was jetted. Engineers prided themselves on the variety of tones and pitches they could have customized for their whistles, and they developed talents for pulling the locomotive's whistle rope in distinctive, recognizable ways.

Modern locomotives have reduced whistle blowing to the press of a button on a computerized control console.

Click to hear that lonesome whistle blow, which is the title of a wonderful book by railroad aficionado and historian Lucius Beebe. He and co-author Charles Clegg once owned the plush, private car Nomad, now part of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (and available for hire).

The whistle in my audio sample—two long blasts, followed by a short, and another long—is the accepted signal when approaching a grade level road crossing.

I've heard many an engineer make their "long" whistles extra lo-o-o-o-o-ng, hoping to "wake up" inattentive or irresponsible motorists before a collision occurs. Save lives by stopping, looking, and being smart about a fast moving device that weighs at least 2500 times what your car does. In other words—"Look, Listen, and Live"

As you drive, you may encounter a train—or, hopefully, you'll have opportunity to ride the railroad—and might hear one or more of the following signals. Pay heed, especially if you are approaching a railroad crossing. The whistle could save your life.