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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).
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