Q. About Donner Pass Reno whistles

[HankySpanky]

Upon entering Reno, railway signs read "X" when approaching highway grade crossings. In most routes it is a "W" that means sound your whistle. In other routes it sometimes reads "W/X" which I interpret as meaning to sound the whistle for multipul grade crossings ahead. Quite zones are a "W" with a red circle and a red slash through it. So in Reno, does the "X" mean quite zone? I ask this because I cannot believe that all the casinos and other trackside businesses would put up with train horns blasting all the time. What does that "X" actually mean? Nothing in manual about it.

[Ericmopar]

No it's short for "X-ing ahead"
IE Crossing Ahead.
S.P. had traditionally used the "X" for the word "cross" is all, while other railroads used a "W" for "Whistle"

[HankySpanky]

Thanks Eric.

Say -- You're the guy doing the Donner remake, right? A tedious job for sure. It will be a much appreciated work by all no doubt. If I can help in anyway please PM me.

[Ericmopar]

Thanks Eric.

Say -- You're the guy doing the Donner remake, right? A tedious job for sure. It will be a much appreciated work by all no doubt. If I can help in anyway please PM me.

Yes I'm doing the Donner remake and thank you.

I'm old enough to have made trips to Reno from the Bay Area, back before they put the mainline below the street level. They didn't spare the horn at any point at any time of day. There were too many drunken fools roaming the area 24/7.
You wouldn't believe how many drunks would walk less than 20ft away right in front of a train approaching the Virginia st crossing. They would give the crews the middle finger and just keep coming! You could sit there near the Eldorado hotel for an hour and see dozens of them do that. Not always the bird, but walk in front of the oncoming trains only a few feet away, while holding their hands over their ears... because of the blaring horns...
It's also why the speed limit is painfully slow through there.
As railfans, me and my friends knew to make sure to stay away from the hotels along the main drags like Virginia street. Otherwise no one would have gotten any sleep.