Use of horns

[pokemonsuper9]

While it might please the person filming, the use of the horn is almost always because they are standing too close to the edge of the platform.

I've had a variety of trains honk (and thumbs up or waves from drivers) presumably because they saw me filming and I can't imagine that any of the places I took videos from is unsafe unless every yellow line needs some big rethinking.

 

[43066]

It would not often be used, so I do not see why it could not stay. Before you take a rule out find out why it was put there in the first place !

I still do it anyway, even though I started on the railway after the rule had been removed. It’s a degraded situation, there may be p-way around I haven’t seen etc.

If in doubt, blow up!

Ah, so not really a rule then

One that sounds like something that’s been dreamed up by someone trying to make a name for themselves.

I've had a variety of trains honk (and thumbs up or waves from drivers) presumably because they saw me filming and I can't imagine that any of the places I took videos from is unsafe unless every yellow line needs some big rethinking.

I blow the horn and wave at spotters/photters on occasion, the overwhelming majority of whom are perfectly sensible, in my experience.

And why not - it’s good to bring some positivity to the railway!

 

[driverd]

No idea why they'd be doing that - I drive over that line and I've never heard another driver sounding the horn there! (Not that I'm doubting your ears.)

Maybe mistaking it for the whistle board at Burley in Wharfdale? Trains tend to pass there and 333 horns can be heard in Lancashire...

 

[InkyScrolls]

Maybe mistaking it for the whistle board at Burley in Wharfdale? Trains tend to pass there and 333 horns can be heard in Lancashire...

Could be! Sun Lane UWC is the only whistleboard crossing on the Ilkley branch.

 

[12LDA28C]

It would not often be used, so I do not see why it could not stay. Before you take a rule out find out why it was put there in the first place !

It seems pretty obvious why it was there in the first place - so that any P-way staff working on the line, aware that the protecting signal is maintained at danger are warned of an approaching train. The removal of that rule seems to make the railway less safe, IMO.

 

[gshock]

No idea why they'd be doing that - I drive over that line and I've never heard another driver sounding the horn there! (Not that I'm doubting your ears.)

I drive that line and it should only be for any p-way / track workers at that part of the line.

Further down is the Whistle Board between Burley and Wharfedale and Ben Rhydding for the Sun Lane crossing. That is the only designated place to sound a horn.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Oct 2024 ==

Another slight tangent, but I wish there could be a proper return to two-tone horn soundings rather than the single tones which are supposedly deemed to be less disturbing, but which can far more easily be confused with road horns (thus reducing the safety aspect of train horns, which is their entire purpose). It's been covered elsewhere, I know...

Well that's (two-tone horn) been designated as the initial warning for when you see somebody On or Near the Line... track workers etc. That's a designated low / high.
Whistling is just one tone.. low.

 

[InkyScrolls]

I drive that line and it should only be for any p-way / track workers at that part of the line.

Further down is the Whistle Board between Burley and Wharfedale and Ben Rhydding for the Sun Lane crossing. That is the only designated place to sound a horn.

I drive it too - I've probably given you a wave at some point!

 

[gshock]

I drive it too - I've probably given you a wave at some point!

.


Or sounded your horn at me??

 

[InkyScrolls]

.


Or sounded your horn at me??

Less likely but not impossible!

 

[Travelmonkey]

Given automated announcements are now norm I've noticed that non stop express trains use their horns less passing through stations, although does still happen on occasion,

 

[12LDA28C]

Given automated announcements are now norm I've noticed that non stop express trains use their horns less passing through stations, although does still happen on occasion,

On the LU it’s a requirement for a driver to sound the horn on the approach to a station the train isn’t stopping at.

 

[gshock]

Given automated announcements are now norm I've noticed that non stop express trains use their horns less passing through stations, although does still happen on occasion,

It's discretionary, but I always do.

There have been tales of kids sat on platforms (Low Moor for one) with their legs dangling off. It's on a curve.
I'll always whistle through if not stopping.

 

[InkyScrolls]

It's discretionary, but I always do.

There have been tales of kids sat on platforms (Low Moor for one) with their legs dangling off. It's on a curve.
I'll always whistle through if not stopping.

Likewise.

 

[Lurcheroo]

I've had a variety of trains honk (and thumbs up or waves from drivers) presumably because they saw me filming and I can't imagine that any of the places I took videos from is unsafe unless every yellow line needs some big rethinking.

I blow the horn and wave at spotters/photters on occasion, the overwhelming majority of whom are perfectly sensible, in my experience.

And why not - it’s good to bring some positivity to the railway!

I’m always happy to give a toot and a wave, I just try to employ some common sense to it.

Possibly peak of my career was pulling away from a station (on a rural branch line with nobody else about) with about 30 kids on (with supervising adults, looked like it was a school trip and they were off on a night hike somewhere) and they’re all watching me and a few giving the arm pumps, give them a toot to a collective cheer from them all. Thanks kids, made my day

 

[sprite]

Well that's (two-tone horn) been designated as the initial warning for when you see somebody On or Near the Line... track workers etc. That's a designated low / high.
Whistling is just one tone.. low.

That was my understanding too.
Tooting 2 means I see you.
Just blown 1 I've seen no-one.

I still raise one arm clearly to show I've heard, even if I'm well back from a crossing/platform etc.

 

[LCC106]

It also used to be a requirement to sound the horn before passing a signal at danger. This was also removed from the Rule Book some years ago although it still applies on LU lines.

I still sound it before passing a signal at danger, as doing so feels wrong. So the horn makes me feel justified for the move. My manager wouldn’t have an issue with that.

 

[dk1]

I still sound it before passing a signal at danger, as doing so feels wrong. So the horn makes me feel justified for the move. My manager wouldn’t have an issue with that.

I still get the urge to but restrain myself.

 

[12LDA28C]

I still sound it before passing a signal at danger, as doing so feels wrong. So the horn makes me feel justified for the move. My manager wouldn’t have an issue with that.

Totally agree. Surely it's safer, for a start. (I assume you mean not doing so feels wrong.)

 

[778]

Do modern locomotives have "horn opposite end" buttons, allowing the driver to sound the horn at the other end of the loco?

 

[12LDA28C]

Do modern locomotives have "horn opposite end" buttons, allowing the driver to sound the horn at the other end of the loco?

No. What would be the point of that?

 

[778]

No. What would be the point of that?

Some of the early types of diesels had them (25s, 26s and 40s).

 

[craigybagel]

Given automated announcements are now norm I've noticed that non stop express trains use their horns less passing through stations, although does still happen on occasion,

I don't for most stations but I always do it at Smethwick Galton Bridge on the down - it's a very busy and narrow platform, on a curve with the view obstructed by a bridge at the start of the platform. I feel better giving a bit of a warning just in case.

I still sound it before passing a signal at danger, as doing so feels wrong. So the horn makes me feel justified for the move. My manager wouldn’t have an issue with that.

I've done it with my manager sitting beside me! He did point out it's been out of the rule book for a long time, but I prefer to do it as part of the processes I follow in that scenario. I also found it very helpful as a guard when the driver did it, so I could work out why the train stopped and then proceeded without bothering the driver at a difficult time - and it was also reassuring if I could see we were going past a red to know it was ok!

Besides, if you're getting talked past a red, there's a pretty good chance there's some S&T staff somewhere nearby....

 

[Krokodil]

Some of the early types of diesels had them (25s, 26s and 40s).

First I've heard of it. I can see why it would have been useful in the days of unfitted freights and needing to signal the guard.

 

[dk1]

Do modern locomotives have "horn opposite end" buttons, allowing the driver to sound the horn at the other end of the loco?

We have over excitable guards at the back that like to do that.

 

[8ace]

Is it still two at LCs? I was once told that the reason for the two tones with to distinguish it from car horns.

 

[dk1]

Is it still two at LCs? I was once told that the reason for the two tones with to distinguish it from car horns.

No, just the one long low tone if there’s a whistle board.

 

[chuff chuff]

Some of the early types of diesels had them (25s, 26s and 40s).

Seem to remember them on the 37's.

 

[12LDA28C]

Some of the early types of diesels had them (25s, 26s and 40s).

News to me, but in any case it wouldn't have been a 'button', horns are generally joystick-shaped and operated by air.

 

[Sheridan]

News to me, but in any case it wouldn't have been a 'button', horns are generally joystick-shaped and operated by air.

Presumably if such a thing does exist it could be a button or a switch to swap between the two with the horn still operated by the lever handle.

 

[12LDA28C]

First I've heard of it. I can see why it would have been useful in the days of unfitted freights and needing to signal the guard.

More likely for setting back/propelling moves. It was also commonplace for locos to 'run round' without the driver changing ends but of course that practice is frowned upon today and rightly so given the number of collisions that happened 'back in the day' caused by drivers not being in the leading cab.