Atomic Systems

I'm curious what the whistle signals (Locomotive) are in the UK. Starting, stopping and the like.

I've also noticed in bits of footage and photos I've seen there is no latching system on the throttle (Regulator) like we have here in the states. How is the steam flow controled at an even rate, is it loose?

Hi and welcome to the forums,
locos give one blast of the whistle when starting to move (or should do)
but dont normaly give a signal when stopping (at least i have never noticed anyone doing it).
they give sevral blasts on the approach to LCs and often if the are passing through a station non stop.

as far as the regulator is concerned (im no expert have only seen it on romney locos so main line could be diffrent but dont think so). the regulator just stays where you leave it with no form of locking.

JR

Yes, the regulators are fairly stiff to move, so when they're open to where you want them, they stay where they are until they are pushed shut by the driver or fireman. Though most, if not all, reversers have locking catches in one form or another.

Not sure if we are just talking about steam here...but...

Trains usually whistle...

On aprroach to most L.Cs
On approach to tunnels
Inside tunnels if its long
Exit of tunnels
Starting away at a depot
Passing a signal at danger
Starting away at a station where the signal is at danger

Theres probably more but cant think of them right now. Apologies if your just talking about steam.

Daniel

If your loco will not do.
Couple off and Whistle two.

(Light engine to shed)

There are a lot of whistle codes use to indicate desired routing to signal boxes.

I'll try to find a booklet I have.

Thank you all!

On the Bluebell, the crew usually whistle twice if they are waiting for the signalman to change something.

Part of Rule 127 The Driver Must..... (1950 Rule Book)

Unfortunately I cannot find the whistle code booklet giving the route whistle codes.

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Thanks, some very good information!

There are some more examples of whistle signals at ....
http://www.dukedog.co.uk/rules%20132-164.html

Ian J

I hope this might be interesting to know too.

As far as I know these are the different horn sound patterns for diesels, but I'm no expert:

British trains have a horn which is a level - push it away from you to make a High-sounding Horn or pull it forward to make a Low-sounding Horn, where as the US, I believe you press a button (and hold it down for a length of time) to sound a single-note Horn.

The common horn patterns in the UK are:
High
Low
Low-High
High-Low
High-Low-High
Low-High-Low

I have heard a non-standard pattern which went:
High-Low-High-Low

The most strangest one was:
High-Low--Low-Low--High-High--Low

I heard it in a video on "http://rail.mjspencer.com/" which you can watch by clicking here. (NOTE: The strange horn is the in the last few seconds of the clip, )

There are *LOADS* of whistle codes that have specific meanings they were used in some places for a routing request for example.

eg Hunslet South Junction leaving Up sidings for up main line 1 long blast
Hunslet South Junction leaving Up sidings for up goods line 2 long blasts.

Before any smart arse tells me otherwise, I'm reading this from my BR(NE) South sectional appendix, which has 4 pages full, the LNER version has even more! Quite good because it also lists turntable sizes and locations etc.