Whistles in Virginia

[Anonymous]

Do I listen for a train whistle at 300 yds away, 600 yds away, 1/4 mile away, or depending on what town I'm in are there even whistles blown? Then at a sight obstructed "private" crossing I listen for the bb bouncing around in Kevs cranial cavity I guess because the railroads are too cheap to put in whistle posts.

56-414. Bell and whistle or horn; when sounded.

Every railroad company shall provide each locomotive passing upon its road with a bell of ordinary size and steam whistle or horn, and such whistle or horn shall be sharply sounded outside cities and towns at least twice at a distance of not less than 300 yards nor more than 600 yards from the place where the railroad crosses upon the same level any public highway or crossing, and such bell shall be rung or whistle or horn sounded continuously or alternately until the locomotive has reached such highway crossing, and shall give such signals in cities and towns as their local governing bodies may require.

The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance require locomotives to sound their whistle upon approaching designated railroad trestles or bridges having lengths of 100 feet or more. Notice of any such requirement shall be given by registered mail to the registered agent of the railroad operating in the affected county, city, or town. Affected railroads shall comply with any such ordinance within thirty days of receiving the notice.

(Code 1919, § 3958; 1950, p. 944; 1956, c. 164; 1993, c. 483.)

§ 56-16. Wagonways to be constructed across roads, railroads, canals,
and other works; enforcement.

For the purpose of this section, "wagonway" means a vehicular
crossing adequate to permit the passage of machinery and vehicles used
for agricultural or forestal purposes, including but not limited to the
transportation of agricultural and forestal products to markets. Every
public service corporation whose road, railroad, canal, or works passes
through the lands of any person in this Commonwealth shall provide and
maintain proper and suitable wagonways across such road, railroad,
canal, or other works, from one part of such land to the other, and
shall keep such wagonways in good repair. Such wagonways shall be
constructed and maintained on the request of the landowner, in writing,
by certified mail, made to the registered agent for the corporation
owning such road, railroad, canal, or other works at that point, and
shall designate the points at which the wagonways are desired. If the
company fails or refuses for ninety days after such request to
construct and maintain wagonways of a convenient and proper character
at the places designated, then the owner may apply to the circuit court
of the county or city wherein such land is located for the appointment
of three disinterested persons whose lands do not abut on such road,
railroad, canal, or other works, who shall constitute a board of
commissioners whose duty it shall be to go upon the land and determine
whether the requested wagonways should be constructed and maintained.

Any delay in construction or maintenance caused by inclement weather,
war, strikes, acts of God, national emergencies, or failure of any
local, state, or federal government agencies to grant permits shall
extend the aforesaid period. The decision of such board shall be in
writing and, if favorable to the landowner, shall set forth the points
at which the wagonways should be constructed and maintained, giving
also a description of what should be done by the company to make and
maintain a suitable and convenient wagonway. The decision of the board
of commissioners shall be returned to, and filed in, the clerk's
office of such court, and when called up at the next or any succeeding
term of such court, it shall be confirmed, unless good cause is shown
against it by the company. Either party shall have the right of appeal
to the Supreme Court from the judgment of the court. If the company
fails, within a reasonable time fixed by the court at the time of the
confirmation of a report favorable to the landowner, to make and
maintain the wagonways therein referred to, it shall pay the landowner
fifty dollars for each day of such failure, which may be recovered on
motion by the landowner against the company, in the circuit court of
the county or city wherein such land is located having jurisdiction to
try the same. The commissioners shall each receive for their services
the sum of fifty dollars per day, to be taxed as a part of the costs of
the proceeding.

Once the right to such wagonway has been established, should the
railroad change the grade of any portion of the tracks across which
such wagonway passes, it shall be the duty of the railroad to make
whatever reasonable modifications of the wagonway are necessary within
the railroad right-of-way to permit the passage of the aforesaid
machinery and vehicles.

(Code 1919, § 3883; 1994, c. 352.)




http://www.sdrm.org/faqs/rulebook/signals.html#5.8.2

5.8 Bell and Whistle Signals
5.8.1 Ringing Engine Bell
Ring the engine bell under any of the following conditions:


Before moving, except when making momentary stop and start switching movements.
As a warning signal anytime it is necessary.
When approaching public crossings at grade with the engine in front, as follows:
If distance permits, ringing must begin at least 1/4 mile before the public crossing and continue until the crossing is occupied.
or
If distance does not permit, ringing must begin soon enough before the crossing to provide a warning and continue until the crossing is occupied,
5.8.2 Sounding Whistle
When weather conditions impair visibility, sound the whistle frequently.

If the whistle fails, ring the bell continuously while moving.

When other employees are working in the immediate area, sound the required whistle signal before moving.

The radio may be used in place of whistle signals, except signals (1) and (1 1). See following chart.

The required whistle signals are illustrated by "o" for short sounds and "-" for longer sounds:



http://www.fra.dot.gov/pdf/cross_chp5.pdf

VIRGINIA

Virginia requires audible warning be given between three hundred and six hundred yards of the

crossing. Local governments in Virginia may require the sounding of the whistle upon approaching

designated railroad trestles or bridges having lengths of one hundred feet or more. Va. Code Ann. § 56-429

(Michie 1999).

Virginia law requires locomotives operating at night to be equipped with headlights. The headlights

must have a brilliance of at least five hundred candlepower measured with the aid of a reflector. Va. Code

Ann. § 56-413 (Michie 1999).

[DTomajko]

WOW! Somebody has a lot of time on their hands.Maybe a new hobby would help,this one seems to not agree with you.Have a nice day and lets be careful out there.

[Anonymous]

After 180 years still nothing consistant for operateing rules. how convenient for the railroads huh?

[wabash1]

yep very convienant. why should i do all that. those 1800 rules dont apply today. the rules are simpler. but i like the one where it says if horn dont work ring bell. that is a laugh. cause if the horn dont work you dont move, the engine is bad ordered and becomes a "b" unit only. oh well try again. those rules you stated went out in 1890

[Anonymous]

Va. Code Ann. § 56-413 (Michie 1999).
Meaning state law 1999

[edblysard]

Ready for a big surprise,? State Laws may not superceed federal law, which, in this instance, is found in the current GCOR, april, 2000, rule 5.8, through 5.8.3 for horn, bell and whistle operation, followed by 5.9 through 5.10.2 for head light, ditch light and alternative markers.
Virigina can pass a law requireing us to whistle Dixie for all we care, it dosnt mean a thing, federal law prevails. And the federal law is more restrictive. But then, you would have to have a copy of the current GCOR to know that, your made up nonsense is going to get you killed at a crossing some day. Try using current info, instead of the propaganda you think up, assuming you can think for your self, or is mike letting you off the leash for a while?
Buy the way, you still havent told us who you are, and where you work. Still living at home with momma?
Ed

[Anonymous]

For your info. the railroads are not a governing body and there rules mean NOTHING to the state which there are NO Federal laws on whistles so the State is the determineing factor.

So take your GCOR and read it while your rideing your stick horse engine.

[Jackflash]

Ed, this guy (or girl) cant work anywhere, how
long do you think he or she would last in a
real work-a-day environment. jackflash

[edblysard]

Never stated the railroads wrote the GCOR, but then I expected to much from you, I though you had acctually read the stuff you rant aagainst. For your information, the operating rules are federal laws, carrying severe penalties if violated. The rules about handling hazzardous materials arnt just rules, their laws. The rule about whistles, bells and lights are federal laws, the engineer who does not follow these rules can be fined, and have his license pulled.
But then, you dont know squat about railroading and I forgot you havent been listening to anything anyone else says, except your momma.
Why is she letting you stay up so late? Or are you on a sleep over at mikes?
At least that buttweasel has the cajones to sign part of his name, so he only half the coward your are.
Ed

[edblysard]

I would love to try him or her out on the switching lead. Bet he or she couldnt make it a hour, without fainting. Or maybe just use him/her as a bumping post or wheel chock?
Stay Frosty,
The Unihead Ed

[Anonymous]

So show us the CFR that makes the GCORs a Federal Law. Kinda like the remote controls ain't it? The FRA says "ah do it however the heck you want to and let us know how it works out".

[wabash1]

for your info the state has nothing to do with me i am lic by the foverment to run locomotives. the laws i obey are from the goverment. if a town says they ban all whistle from 9pm til 7am or i get ticketed guess what they haft to catch me first. cops cant even sit on a crossing exspecting me to stop even if there lights are on flashing. they better move couse i will hit them/ the only time i stop is stop signals dispatcher or other officials orders. or accedents at grade crossings. and at a grade crossing accident i dont haft to let a cop on the engine. he has no rights on the locomotive and reporters for tv and newspapers are banned from the site if we dont want them ( the crew or officials) they will be arrested and escorted off property for tresspassing So i will do as the goverment says when you change the minds of those people then ill do what you want. until then no dice