Random Toots On The Horn!

[RichmondCommu]

G'day everyone,

Last summer I and two young nephews (aged 5 & 7) walked from Ribblehead to Blea Moor signal box. Knowing that they would be too young to attempt Whernside but that they liked trains I thought that they would enjoy the walk.

On arrival at Blea Moor I was delighted to see that the Colas log train was in the loop with the loco in the process of running round its train. Having coupled up to its train we then waved to the driver as the train eased out of the loop. Now to our absolute delight not only did the driver wave but we were treated to three long blasts on the horn! I have to say that this has had a lasting impact on these two little boys and the smile on their faces was a joy to see.

Now on to the point of this post! I've only posted this now because I didn't want to get the driver into trouble. Assuming that these random crowd pleases don't happen in built up areas late at night do managers tend to let this kind of thing go if mean spirited people try to make complaints? I would hope so as the driver was clearly enjoying himself and was certainly not doing any harm.

Any responses would be very welcome!

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[dk1]

I do it all the time mate. Lovely to see the excitement on the little chaps faces (as long as the noise doesnt scare them too tears) & will always put it down to a small deer trackside if asked which would be very odd. Good bit of PR in my book

 

[Hyphen]

As I understand it (and someone will tell me if I'm wrong!), drivers have the freedom to use the horn as they see fit. I'm sure there are guidelines for its use, but any use (if questioned) could probably be explained either as dk1 says by wildlife nearby, or somebody attempting to board too late on a platform maybe. AIUI it wouldn't be a sackable offence.

I've certainly had a couple of blasts on the horn from a driver I know in a (Category A) station setting after bumping into him changing trains one evening. He had time for a quick chat but had to disappear to a different platform to take empty stock to the depot. A quick go on the horn was a nice and clear way to say goodbye

 

[RichmondCommu]

I do it all the time mate. Lovely to see the excitement on the little chaps faces (as long as the noise doesnt scare them too tears) & will always put it down to a small deer trackside if asked which would be very odd. Good bit of PR in my book

Really pleased to read this as I assumed this kind of thing was only restricted to preserved railways. And don't worry those two little boys were far from scared! My fear was that one of the isolated settlements might have reported it.

 

[Topgun333]

On March 17 I took a 150 from Urmston to Manchester oxford road the day after Liverpool had beaten Man Utd 3-0 at Old Trafford. The driver was clearly a Liverpool fan as he hit the horn in celebratory style as we passed Old Trafford.

 

[455driver]

As I understand it (and someone will tell me if I'm wrong!), drivers have the freedom to use the horn as they see fit. I'm sure there are guidelines for its use,

You are nearly right and just for clarification-
Drivers can use the horn at any time they deem it necessary.

This covers all sorts of eventualities but as long as the drivers are being sensible then there wont be a problem.

 

[dk1]

There are some of us good guys left & in fact lots of us really. Doesn't take much to make someones day & makes me feel good too. Thanks for letting us know it works.

 

[Class 92]

I was filming at Stafford a couple of years ago and all the trains were running on the slow line and I was talking to the Virgin driver while stopped at Stafford on a London service and he gave me a short blast on the horn after he said bye to me, made me smile, very nice driver.

 

[RichmondCommu]

You are nearly right and just for clarification-
Drivers can use the horn at any time they deem it necessary.

This covers all sorts of eventualities but as long as the drivers are being sensible then there wont be a problem.

Good! Ten months on those two little boys still talk about it! It's nice to see that even with the modern day railway there is still room for humour and acts of kindness.

 

[Hyphen]

You are nearly right and just for clarification-
Drivers can use the horn at any time they deem it necessary.

Many thanks for the clarification, 455driver

 

[LowLevel]

If I'm in the rear cab and I see little kiddies watching the trains I'll give them a quick toot and a wave (as long as there's no track workers or similar about whom it may give a minor heart attack coming from the wrong end ). It costs nothing and it's only good for how people view the railway.

I was at a certain large station a month or two back and there was a school visit going round - the manager showing them about and a driver who happened to be there with a HST on a long turnaround were letting them all in the cab two by two and letting them blow the horn, much to their collective delight!

 

[Fred Dinenage]

You are nearly right and just for clarification-
Drivers can use the horn at any time they deem it necessary.

This covers all sorts of eventualities but as long as the drivers are being sensible then there wont be a problem.

Is there any specific ruling on using the horn approaching level / pedestrian crossings? Could this help avoid accidents if it was mandatory, specifically pedestrian ones? I have no idea of rules and regs but it would seem to make sense as drivers know where the crossings are and it costs nowt....

 

[Southern313]

Foot crossings with poor sighting of approaching trains. E.g. On a curve will have whistle boards for drivers to sound horns warning of the trains approach. No level crossing or occupational crossing on routes I sign have whistle boards as other methods are in place for user safety. Barriers/lights on level crossings and a requirement for occupational crossing users to contact the controlling signaller before crossing.

If every crossing needed whistle boards I'd pretty much be constantly blowing the horn between Havant and Portslade!

I'll always give a blast if I feel it's needed at any crossing.

As for blowing up for train wavers, I use the depot whistle on 377s, bit kinder to the ears!

 

[455driver]

As for blowing up for train wavers, I use the depot whistle on 377s, bit kinder to the ears!

Posh buggers , on our Disastros we just have extremely loud high and low tones, no soft/depot setting on them.

I have noticed that a few units/ coaches have had the volume turned down or new (quieter) horns fitted, they are still loud but it is a more sensible volume than the ear splitting standard setting.

 

[user15681]

As for blowing up for train wavers, I use the depot whistle on 377s, bit kinder to the ears!

I tend to find a lot of 375/377 drivers will use the depot whistle when tooting at photographers/kids/wavers/filmers etc. Passengers inside always look a little confused when they hear it

 

[Dieseldriver]

Always toot the horn and wave back at kids, makes me smile to see some of the reactions . Someone would have to lead a sad existence to complain about it or attempt to discipline the driver for it.

 

[merlodlliw]

I My fear was that one of the isolated settlements might have reported it.

Far from it, up here I love to hear the train horn when the winds from the East. But car horns are annoying,when some drivers have had a new one for a present.

 

[Mintona]

I always wave, but was once pulled up by my manager for giving a little toot on the horn, so I don't do that anymore.

 

[A-driver]

The bottom line with sounding the horn is that a manager can't pull you up with it unless they are sitting next to you in the cab. If I was ever challenged about a horn blast I would simply say that I thought I saw p-way on the line. They can't say anything to that weather it be midday in the middle of know here or midnight in a built up area. The horn is to be used whenever the driver feels it necessary.

 

[BravoGolfMike]

Most managers know the score anyway, I had one on a ride out point some kids out on a path which ran alongside the line and tell me to make sure I give them a toot. One of the best parts of the job IMO, you really seem to make someone's day. (Usually Mum or Dad!)

 

[Saint66]

Just north of St Albans station is the City's football club, it's located pretty much directly next to the line, and you'll often get quite a few toots of the horn on Saturday afternoons as they pass by!

 

[irish_rail]

I blow my horn - it keeps the kids on side. By doing that , you are hopefuly winning them over, and in a couple of years time they will still be waving at you and not throwing bricks through the windscreen, so agree, its good PR.

 

[Kentish Paul]

Back in my youth I worked on a farm in West Cornwall which was both sides of the main line.

When you had to bring 80+ head of cows in for milking across the line you got to know the timtable. (This was before crossing telephones).

Got to know many drivers by sight who seemed to know when I might be crossing the cows. Always lots of hooting from many miles away and a wave as they passed.

Often had to close the gates with only half the herd across which was a bit of a heart stopper.

Thanks for the Horns on Westerns and Maybach Engines.

 

[TDK]

I always wave, but was once pulled up by my manager for giving a little toot on the horn, so I don't do that anymore.

Your manager is an ar*e then to do that. There are some power crazy managers about and I glad your manager does not manage me.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Is there any specific ruling on using the horn approaching level / pedestrian crossings? Could this help avoid accidents if it was mandatory, specifically pedestrian ones? I have no idea of rules and regs but it would seem to make sense as drivers know where the crossings are and it costs nowt....

The ruling is that a driver can sound the horn where they deem necessary and frequently used crossing even without a whistle board I will blow up for especially at school turn out times. There are many crossings that are hardly ever used but some are very frequent. You normally learn the frequently used ones after it has snowed. As for AHB level crossings I do not sound the horn at any of the ones I encounter as I do not deem it necessary as there are barriers and red flashing lights to warn anyone that a train is approaching.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Back in my youth I worked on a farm in West Cornwall which was both sides of the main line.

When you had to bring 80+ head of cows in for milking across the line you got to know the timtable. (This was before crossing telephones).

Got to know many drivers by sight who seemed to know when I might be crossing the cows. Always lots of hooting from many miles away and a wave as they passed.

Often had to close the gates with only half the herd across which was a bit of a heart stopper.

Thanks for the Horns on Westerns and Maybach Engines.

So what was it rump steak if the train was late?

 

[BestWestern]

Even more random, of course, is when the tooting comes from the back end of the train as it powers off into the distance! ;D

 

[route:oxford]

Do the drivers still "toot" as they pass Kerr's Miniature Railway in Arbroath.

Always made me happy as a child as both drivers waived to each other as they past...

 

[Matt Taylor]

Unfortunately train horns are also the cause of quite a few complaints, I recall one man tried to get compensation from a TOC on the basis that their daughter was spooked by a train horn and fell over requiring a visit to A&E.

Many people complain on the general basis that trains shouldn't be noisy, although train noise (just like aircraft noise) would have been reflected in the price of the property when they purchased it.

It's a bit like buying a property near a school and then complaining about the noise of the children during break time.

 

[Llanigraham]

And how many of you drivers "toot" at us lonely "bobbies" in our mechanical boxes? Or wave at us?

There are a few ATW drivers that do it along the Marches Line.

 

[7Pinza]

A few toots for my kids today waving at the ECML trains!

 

[Kentish Paul]

So what was it rump steak if the train was late?[/QUOTE]

Never happend in my time (just!) but did before. Warship (Class 42) and beef. Not nice.