In this new issue (which I received today) there is the question as to the origin of the public crossing signal used by railroads. The answer had reference to the Morse code for the letter "Q," stating that it referred to the presence of the Queen on board, and that it has been the standard for about 200 years.
As I was growing up on a low-traffic branch of the Southern in South Carolina, I noticed one whistle post which had, instead of two broad stripes with one big dot and a third broad stripe, two broad stripes and two big dots--indicating that the signal for the upcoming crossing was two longs and two shorts. In the sixties, I was talking with a much older man who had worked on at least one railroad, and he told me that the signal had been the one with two shorts.
Thus, there is no connection between the Morse code and the signal.
To me, the last blast was changed so that it would be held longer--and it IS held until the engine reaches the crossing.
Johnny
Change in rule books happened in the 1920s. The _ _ . _ "Q" is International Morse. Not the American Morse "Q" (. . _ .) that would've been used on the railroads in the US and I think Canada.
It's strange that Trains has that answer, since some years ago they (or Classic Trains) had that the two long two shorts was the original signal. Complete with a picture of an old Southern Ry whistle post showing the same. That it changed because engineers were holding the last short was held long until they reached the crossing. I think we've even discussed this on here before.
That's the difference between then and now. Back then managers saw what employees were doing and changed the book to reflect the practice. Now they view the book as sacrosanct in all matters. (Maybe because for too many the book is all they know and it must be right.)
Jeff
It's because that's the width of two horse's backsides - wait - wrong legend.
Like most legends, there's probably an element of truth in any and all of the explanations.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
jeffhergert Change in rule books happened in the 1920s. The _ _ . _ "Q" is International Morse. Not the American Morse "Q" (. . _ .) that would've been used on the railroads in the US and I think Canada. It's strange that Trains has that answer, since some years ago they (or Classic Trains) had that the two long two shorts was the original signal. Complete with a picture of an old Southern Ry whistle post showing the same. That it changed because engineers were holding the last short was held long until they reached the crossing. I think we've even discussed this on here before. That's the difference between then and now. Back then managers saw what employees were doing and changed the book to reflect the practice. Now they view the book as sacrosanct in all matters. (Maybe because for too many the book is all they know and it must be right.) Jeff
Yes, we did have quite a discussion of this on the forum some time back--and I had commented on my observation. Apparently, no one had thought it necessary to change that particular whistle post. I have not looked at it in more than sixty years.
Other then the unecessary comment about David Morgan's drinking habits, I think 99% of us can agree with Don Phillips that David Morgan was among the best RR writers ever. Can't usually say that about a Phillips column any more.
DPM was a much better writer than the overrated Lucius Beebe ever was. His style was descriptive, clear, concise and avoided Beebe's pomposity and disdain for the 20th century.
David P. Morgan “died of complications from emphysema,” according to his late biographer, Thomas M. Jacklin.
http://trn.trains.com/bonus/dpm01
A correction needs to be made to the "Map of the Month". In two out of three labels the Willamette Shore Trolley is shown as "Out of Service", but service has resumed this year, starting with the Memorial Day weekend: http://wst.oregontrolley.com/wst-schedule-fares/
Whatever took him out of this world, DPM looked considerably older than his 62 years, and I agree, we really don't need to know "he drank himself to death." Certainly he was human, and like all of us had his flaws, but there's things better left unsaid.
On the other hand, it WAS said in the old days that to be a successful journalist you needed at least two things, a good-quality typewriter and a bottle of scotch in a handy desk drawer.
wanswheel David P. Morgan “died of complications from emphysema,” according to his late biographer, Thomas M. Jacklin. http://trn.trains.com/bonus/dpm01
The emphysema complicators are right under his chin.
Being a 'boomer' it is my observation that those of the generation before us 'aged' sooner than the Boomer Generation is aging. I have alread outlived my father by 1/2 a decade and my mother by a decade and a half. Boomers are participating in society at ages earlier generations could only hoped to have attained at the time of their death.
Boomers have had the advantage of better, consistant food availability as well has all the advances in medicine that have happened in the 20th and 21st Centuries. Without modern medicine I would have been planted 20 years ago.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
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