Train Whistles at Road Crossings

Do you know how many times a train blows it's whistle at road crossings and what is the history behind the whistles?

You will hear train whistle referred to as steam trumpet, air-chime, or train horns.  For the musically inclined among us, the most common musical chords on trains today in North America is the Air-chime version of D sharp (#), F#, G#, B, which is a G# minor 7th in the 2nd inversion.

When a train approaches a road crossing, it blows its whistle a total of four (4) times.  Two (2) longs, one (1) short and one (1) long.  In Morse code that is the letter "Q".

This dates back to when the Queen of England would come into harbor aboard ships.  The ship would blast their horn the letter "Q" to let everyone know the Queen of England was on board and to yield the right of way to it.

Trains adopted this signal for everyone to yield to it.

The following is a list of all the train blast.

• One short: Stop or stopping; apply the brakes
• One long: Approaching railroad station or junction (if moving), or apply air brakes and equalize pressure (if standing)
• Two short: A general answer signal or acknowledgement; identical to the "roger" or "10-4" radio terms
• One short, one long: Inspect the train
• One long, one short: Visibility obscured
• Two long: Train is about to proceed forward; release the brakes
• One long, two short: Additional section follows signaling train
• Two long, one short or two short, one long: Train is approaching a meeting or waiting point
• Two long, one short, one long: Train is approaching a grade level crossing (i.e. a road crossing). This is a widely used safety signal used to warn motorists and is blown at every grade level crossing, except where local noise ordinances prohibit it. Known in railroad rulebooks as rule '14L'
• Three short: Train is about to proceed in reverse (if standing), or train is about to stop at the next station (if moving)
• Three long: Train cars have come unhooked; train has come apart
• One long, three short: Flagman, go protect the rear of the train
• One short, three long: Flagman, go protect the front of the train
• Four short: Request for signals
• Four long: Flagman, return to the train from the west or north
• Five long: Flagman, return to the train from the east or south
• Four short, one long: Fire alarm; fire on the train
• Multiple short: Danger, get off the tracks! Used to warn pedestrians or livestock who are on the tracks in front of the approaching train.

Now you know more than you cared to know.

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