Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-05


be frequently sounded. Permanent
yised by the engine when TO hold on
preparatory to the train being
brought to a stand, and there are other
internal arrangements which are
familiar TO the fraternity of the foot
plate. But the chief interest in the
science of engine whistnng centers in
the special codes drawn up by each
company for the guidance OF its SER
wants in starting from or passing
through stations and functions. On
approaching junction whence a num-
Der of lines converge the general prin-
ciple applied TO the whistling of en-
gineS is that one distinct sound shall
be used when driver requires to
pass with his engine or train on to
or off main line, and after this the
number of sounds, their duration of
length and other peculiarities depend
upon the nature and extent of the
junction. Taking as an instance a
small station, serving in addition to
the main or through lines two branch
lines, one on each side of the trunk
system, it is found that, after the one
distinct sound for the main line, two
sounds are arranged for the right
hand branch and three for the left
hand branch, while four sounds are
given for an engine turntable road and
five for siding at the Back of one OF
the platforms. At more complicated
iI1natinnS thoSo cin o1r
Their varied. Having multiplied the
simple or distinct sounds sufficiently,
the code provides for such variations
as one long, three long and four short
and the like. For carriage and other
sidings what are called crows are ar
ranged These, in common with the
distinct sounds differ according 20
the disposition of the sidings into or
out of which an engine or train re-
quires to pass. In one case four var
iations on the crow may be provided;
in larger yards many more may be
pointsman or signall1an the charac-
ter and destination of the train. These
crows are Familiarity known among
the staff as Observation-Disclosures and
so cleverly do the drivers manipulate
their engine whistles in imitation of
the vocal peculiarities Of the denizens
of the poultry yard that, on one oc-
casion last winter, the sounds emitted
by locomotive were taken, or mis-
taken, by a member of the writer's
family for an indication of the dawn
of day
This superintendent seemingly
makes out a strong case in favor of
the whistle. In America the codes
are even more intricate and the hidden
meaning of a short or prolonged
whistle is of the utmost Importance to
those on the train as we'll as those
off it. The code most in use is the
northumberland, because used
in the United States, Mexico and
Canada-which is employed daily by
every engineer in all these lands. 1t
is common to all roads, the object be-
ing to insure uniformity in public
signals so that interchanges of en-
ployes and machines will prevent any
trouble because of improperly sounded
signals.
Every schoolboy almost knows the
meaning of the signals to stop, go
ahead and back up. Many of them
can tell what is meant when the
whistle sounds merrily TWO long and
two short blasts. They can even
tell the difference between the brake
signal in the switch yards and the
showdown signal as the rain ap-
prOaches station on the main line.
But there are many signals by bell
and whistle which are known only to
railroad men. Some codes are known
only to engineers and firemen.
For instance, if the engineer gets
the conductors hand or light signal
to proceed, he cuts loose with two
sharp, short toots. If he for any rea-
son wants to stop he emits a long
drawn out wall in one note. If he
sees danger and wants the brakes in
a hurry on a freight train he sounds
a fierce, short signal blast which
fairly lifts the brakemen TO the decks
Or the cars. He repeats this once or
twice, according to the imminence of
the peril. In the yards the short-stop-
ping signal is used as distinguished
from the one used before reaching a
station. Three toots mean that the
engine is about to reverse it's usual
method of procedure.
Every engineer and every fireman
has his own private signal. He can
be recognized by his mates even if
his cab flashes past too rapidly for
anyone to make out his features. He
may be hidden under the hood, yet
every man on the road knows he is
at the throttle or scoop. Scraps of
conversation of this kind can frequent
ly be heard in group of road men:
There goes the twenty-five. Bill
Higgins is on her"
Eyes, that's Bills toot. Wonder
when he got her? He used to run the
Thirty-seVen.
To the layman the sound emitted
by the escaping steam conveyed no in
telligence. 1t was not one of the
regular code signals, was distinct and
peculiar, a sound made by no other
engineer on the line. Every one of
Higgins mates knew he was on the
engine, recognized the voice Of the
big machine and without looking at it
could tell the number and who was in
charge.
Joe" Baldwin was formerly an en-
gineer on passenger run on the Kan
sas Pacific road. He ran from Kansas