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

I have a question about the road crossing signs used on the Clinton sub. I'm assuming the design pictured here was used.

1 mile seems like quite a distance for the Clinton sub where speeds were not more than 25-30 mph in the 50's. Were there any signs like this placed at a 1/2 mile or 1/4 mile?

 

The type of sign in your attachment is for one railroad crossing another railroad. One mile is not that far when you are talking about making a complete stop with a train. The warning sign for a road crossing at grade is much different. I will defer to Karl and others as to the specific standards.

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I had a suspicion about the type of crossing this sign was for.

If anyone could post information about the signs used around the 1950's for "whistle" or road crossing ahead it would be much appreciated.

 

If I am not mistaken, it was a Black "W" on a white board placed about a 1/2 mile from the road crossing.

 

Thanks. If anyone has any photos, drawings, or deminsions I'd love to hear or see them.

 

Thanks. That makes a lot of sense. You would think the post might be painted white on the top so the black W would stand out more...

 

The flattened "W" signs, for whistle, were always noticeable to me around the grade crossings on the Frisco.

When I was a kid around Springfield, that's how I could always tell the Frisco tracks from the Missouri Pacific, They used an "X" for their crossing signs.

Tom G.

 

Sounds good. I'm getting more and more info by the minute. I probably should have used the term "whistle post" from the beginning. If anyone has any drawings or photos of whistle posts I would greatly appreciate viewing them.

Thank you.

 

Maybe Karl Brand will weigh in here, he has some of those standard plans, maybe even a book of them??

Tom G.

 

Am in Missouri for Christmas. I have examples of both MP & SLSF Whistle Posts at home as well as the standard plans. Next year.

 

Enjoy your stay. I'm also in Missouri for Christmas. St. Clair County, just a few miles from the Highline.

 

Here is the standard plan for the whistle post from plan C8184.

 

Photo of a whistle post from Clinton Sub attached. Photo was taken around 1990 next to the Chevrolet Leeds Assembly Plant in Kansas City, MO.

Sketch with dimensions of whistle post found on the Clinton Sub at Blairstown, MO.

Dale Rush
Carthage, MO

 

Thanks so much everyone. I can put this info to good use.

 

We have several of these Frisco whistle posts at the museum at Carona, KS. We also have a Frisco steel bridge marker and mile post markers. If anyone needs pictures I will see if I can get someone to take some shots and get them posted.

John Chambers

 

Frisco also had some concrete whistle posts with the "W" embossed into the concrete. They were about the size of a 2 x 8 and about six feet long.

In the late 1970's, I tried to "rescue" one that was knocked over and discarded during some trackwork near the crossing at Cherry St. and Weller Ave. in Springfield, but it was too heavy and wouldn't have fitted in the trunk of my car.

It would have made a nice yard "sculpture," say next to a lawn jockey or one of those whirly winged ducks!! ))

Tom G.

 

That would have been really cool. I'd like one in my yard.

What about placement of these whistle posts. KMRwyCo's attachment in post # 13 says 1320 ft from grade crossing. Easy enough but what about in more city areas where the grade crossing were closer together than 1320 ft? This brings up some questions about placement. Are there rules for this posted anywhere?

 

In Belton, on the small part of the Clinton Sub operated by the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City, there's a "W 12" Sign as you approach the town timetable North.

Basically, there are 12 crossings as you go through town all covered by that 1 whistle post which is located adjacent to Belton Park as you approach the first of the city's crossings. It looks quite similar to the picture posted below, though the sign plate itself is a little taller with the W on top and the "12" beneath.

I don't have any good pics of it, but I'll try to get over there and take a couple.

 

That concrete post was really close to the street crossing. That was on the Ozark Branch ("Chadwick Line") and the trains went REALLY slow on that line through Springfield.

And they still do, that's the line used by coal trains to the Springfield Utilities James River Power Plant.

Tom G.