Why do American train drivers love their horns whistles so much?

[trev123]

I have watched many videos of trains from all around the world and American train drivers are the only ones that blow their horns/whistles for about a mile before they come to a crossing. Blaaaaah Blaaaaaah Blaaaaah and it goes on. I was wanting to hear the mechanical sounds of Big Boy but every time it got close to the camera it tooted its whistle. Trains in New Zealand where I come from when they approach a crossing they just give one short blast on the horn and the same goes for the UK. Do you guys do the same when playing TS?

[artimrj]

I, personally, do not use the horn. There is no reason for it except to pretend your train is real following the real rules. I play for fun, I live in reality.

[BNSFdude]

Not a mile, 1/4 mile. We're required to blow sequence --o- at least 20 seconds in advance of entering a crossing. I'll post the table of the speed and timing for blowing later.

[BoostedFridge]

I have watched many videos of trains from all around the world and American train drivers are the only ones that blow their horns/whistles for about a mile before they come to a crossing. Blaaaaah Blaaaaaah Blaaaaah and it goes on. I was wanting to hear the mechanical sounds of Big Boy but every time it got close to the camera it tooted its whistle.

You just need to find a video that wasn't filmed at a railroad crossing to get the mechanical sounds as it passes.

[trev123]

That's obvious, isn't it?

[Railfan587]

Union Pacific Horn Signals: https://www.up.com/aboutup/funstuff/hor ... /index.htm
Honestly, horns/whistles (at least in my opinion) seem to be used more often during excursions, especially steam excursions, because of just how many people these excursions draw. And, of course, there are always people getting way too close to the tracks. Bystanders often try to get the engineer/engine driver to blow the horn/whistle too. The --o- road crossing signal is one, if not the most, common signal heard when railfanning in the US. And sometimes, as in the case of the following video, there are many crossings in secession, and the signals run together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAqMSIuhC3Q
The 765's crew explained this in a reply to a comment on this video.

Capture.JPG

When I play the sim, I try to follow the real-world rules for whatever railroad/railway I'm running. So, more horn/whistle in North America, less horn/whistle overseas.

[EngineerJohn]

Portable radios have made most horn signals obsolete, but the laws are still there. Steamers and private museums will typically do every and often the older whistle signals out of tradition and to satisfy most of the crowds.

There have been several cases of trains hitting people where the person "didn't hear the train horn" and it causes the railroad to be investigated for possibly not abiding by government horn usage laws.

Also, train horns in the states are required by law to fall between 96 and 110 decibels.

[mindenjohn]

No wonder they hurt your ears when trackside e.g. Rochelle Railroad Park, Il.

[CArailroader]

Depends where I'm at on the line, but I'm usually pretty loud on the horn. We have a couple of homes right next to their private crossings so I feather the horn a bit quieter at those.

[Brickrail782]

Depends where I'm at on the line, but I'm usually pretty loud on the horn. We have a couple of homes right next to their private crossings so I feather the horn a bit quieter at those.

How are horns feathered exactly?

[PNWR1854]

If the horn has a valve lever or a cord/chain and not a button, you simply pull it down; but not all the way.
It seems in the US we tend to have a lot more crossing accidents than in the UK or New Zealand, so that's gotta have a factor in it.

[evafan002]

If the horn has a valve lever or a cord/chain and not a button, you simply pull it down; but not all the way.
It seems in the US we tend to have a lot more crossing accidents than in the UK or New Zealand, so that's gotta have a factor in it.

yes but you also have a lot more crossings

[CArailroader]

This is the horn valve on the CCB-26 brake stand on one of the RP20BD's I run. There's a spring holding the valve closed. When I pull on the horn lever, it presses against the valve opening it up and allowing air to the horn. Because of the spring, I can lightly pull the horn lever and control how much air goes to the horn.

IMG_20190722_102312498~2.jpg