Clinton Subdivision - Railroad Crossing Fixed Approach and Grade Crossing Whistle Signs

Attached are a couple of pictures that show a Frisco whistle post, W, and a MP whistle post, X, that Tom referenced. The framing square is placed for scale. The basic blade shape has been used by the Frisco since at least the 1930's. Only the blade material has changed, steel to aluminum to fiberglass. The MP sign is cast, 1/4 inch thick, and it's very "hefty"

The Standard Plan Book states that the whistle posts are to be placed 10 feet from the track centerline on the engineer's side. Where the authorized speed is 45 MPH or less, the post will be placed 1320 feet (1/4 mile) from the roadway centerline. Where the authorized speed is 46 MPH to 60 MPH, the post will be placed 1760 feet (1/3 mile) from the roadway centerline. Where the authorized speed is greater than 60 MPH the post will be placed 2050 feet (3/8 mile) from the roadway centerline.

In the state of Tennessee, all whistle posts are placed 1320 feet from the roadway centerline. I'll post the plans next week.

I believe that the W with the 12 that phawkwood describes is a Smoky Hill RR practice.

 

It is possible Smokey Hill put that in, or alternately that BN did it when they were running through as the Grandview branch. I'll ask around and see if any of the long time Smokey Hill folk know where it came from.

The construction of the sign, if I remember correctly, is similar to the the one posted by trainsignguy below. It isn't on a modern signpost or wooden post.

I'm not at all sure of it's origin.

 

Thanks for the information and photos Karl. I see you have 1760 listed twice. Is that correct for < 45 MPH?

I'm still questioning the placement of the whistle posts in an area that has several grade crossings close together. For example, let's say you had four grade crossings 75 feet apart in a small town. The authorized speed is 46 MPH to 60 MPH. Does this mean four whistle posts would be places 75 feet apart starting with the first 1760 feet from the centerline of the first road? Does the rule book reference anything like this?

 

Have been trying to recall ... 50 yrs back on the 'Cotton Belt'. We had four street crossings through town spaced about 300 feet apart. Best I can remember is almost continuous after the first four blasts with a very short pause after each crossing? Through freights were running 40-50 mph I believe?

 

I think with four crossings spaced so close, they would have just laid on the horns.

Tom G.

 

That makes sense but I wonder what the Frisco's official stance on the subject was. For example in Clinton there were 4 grade crossings between the Old Hwy 13 crossing and the SLSF depot. These were fairly close together. About 960 ft total distance and also keep in mind the speed was restricted to 10 MPH here. Did the SLSF require 4 different whistle posts for each of these grade crossings? It would seem like a little bit of overkill but I'm just not sure.

 

In Springfield there were four crossings approaching the depot from the east, but no whistle posts. The crossings had at one time had watchmen, but were later equipped with flashers. The trains moved slowly blowing for the crossings, but seemingly at random. I figure there must have been a rule or special instructions to sound the whistles as needed.

Tom G.

 

Attached is the Standard Plan for the Whistle Post dated Jan 1975. Note in this plan, the blade is embossed fiberglass, which superseded the previous blades, which were made of aluminum. My whistle post, which is depicted below is made of aluminum.

I have looked through several different books of rules and my standard plan book, and I can't find any specific reference to the placement of whistle posts that protect closely-spaced road crossings.

ETT System 1, Oct 17 1971, specified that in Clinton, 3rd Street, 4th Street, and Lincoln Street be protected from the ground.

With regard to my previous post, I did indeed have a copy and paste error. For speeds 45MPH and below, the distance was 1320 feet.

 

Thank you. Will come in very handy...