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Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => SDC Memories/ Park History => Topic started by: Ozark Outlaw on October 19, 2011, 12:14:10 AM

Title: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: Ozark Outlaw on October 19, 2011, 12:14:10 AM
Okay, I have decided to call upon the train experts on this forum. I am fairly confident that each time the train blows its whistle, there is a reason behind it.

For example, just before the train departs the station the engineer will blow two short blast from the whistle. Throughout the ride, the engineer uses various whistle blows. Each whistle blow has a different number of blast, and different durations.

Does anyone know what each of them represent? I am sure one variation of the whistle blow must signal to the “holdup” actors to get ready, and another one surely warns the crossing guard near the old Waterboggan tower to close the gates.

What do each of them mean? :-X

Check out the ending of my YouTube video for a demonstration. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhZ7wg6h2Zk&feature=channel_video_title (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhZ7wg6h2Zk&feature=channel_video_title)
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: Junior on October 19, 2011, 08:20:07 AM
I can give you basics on this topic only. The train whistle sounds when it reaches certain points on the track so the folks at the depot knows where she's at. The toots all mean something. You'll notice when the train stops for the robbery you hear several short toots in a row, which esentially means "Whoa, something weird is going on here! (Meaning the robbery)" When the train goes through Sweet Mary's Tunnel, it's the same blast each time, too. Steamfreak would be the ultimate insider here to tell you what the whistle is saying. Let's hope he chimes in here.
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: Ozark Outlaw on October 19, 2011, 10:22:14 AM
Thanks Junior!

Hopefully, Steamfreak will be able to stop by, but either way I am going straight to the horses mouth, and ask one of the train engineers. Surely, they will give up their secret train whistle formula.  :)
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: KBCraig on October 28, 2011, 02:59:45 AM
While there might be certain codes given to alert the Bolin boys, the whistle codes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_whistle#Whistle_code) are fairly standard.

Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: rubedugans on October 28, 2011, 12:07:57 PM
My understanding was always that the whistle combinations/ occourances were to tell the position of the train on the loop. Either approaching the robbery to alert the Bolin boys as to when they needed to be ready to go on, or leaving the robbery to alert the station as to the time of arrival
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: Ozark Outlaw on October 29, 2011, 12:03:22 PM
My understanding was always that the whistle combinations/ occourances were to tell the position of the train on the loop. Either approaching the robbery to alert the Bolin boys as to when they needed to be ready to go on, or leaving the robbery to alert the station as to the time of arrival

I completely agree with that. I am curious though, that when I hear a long blast, followed by a short blast, or two short blast together, or two long blast together, or whatever other combination, as to where on the track the train is during each one.

It sounds like I have some listening homework to do on my next train ride. ;D
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: rubedugans on October 29, 2011, 10:22:21 PM
I think (if no one chimes in with the real meaning) we can jot down on here where the whistles occour, and what each signal at those times are in order to understand the patterns- in turn giving us possible meanings....that or we just ask, but where is the fun in that?
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: SteamFreak on October 30, 2011, 01:26:33 AM
OK, here we go, a short break down on SDC train whistles (though these are based on historical whistle signals they are not standard to railroading mainly because all you would hear all day would be whistles if they were) Too help explain this I'll you the symbols * and - the *= a short whistle and the - a long one

** = Train is moving forward
*** = Train is moving backwards
- - = Train is going through a crossing
- - - - Train is broken down
- - * - Train is at fire in the hole or sweet Mary's tunnel (this is standard railroad signal for all crossings)
******** = Train is at the show
* = Acknowledgement

All train crew and flooded mine staff know the exact order of these whistle so they will be in the right place at the right time.

Hope that cleared it up!
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: Junior on October 30, 2011, 04:35:59 AM
Best discription we all could get. Thanks Steamfreak, and I hope the new job is going well! Thanks for clearing that up and we hope you will continue to visit this site periodically as your "former citizen" status makes you an expert for the time period you worked at the park. (I'm in the same category as you!)
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: rubedugans on October 30, 2011, 11:02:44 AM
Much thanks Steam. I knew there was a method to the madness, but this would have taken a LONG time to figure out without you!
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: Avalanche04 on October 30, 2011, 11:11:32 AM
thank you very much steam freak!!
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: MissinTheGreenTrams on October 30, 2011, 11:39:22 AM
yay! now I can run around the house with my train whistle and even further my SDC delirium! My hubby will be thrilled! ;D
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: rubedugans on October 30, 2011, 12:08:57 PM
Pulling out of driveway this morning...
*honk*honk*honk-
followed by a *honk *honk -when putting it into drive
wife "what was that for?"
me "oh nothing!"
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: Avalanche04 on October 30, 2011, 12:18:53 PM
lol that's funny rube, i have done that too the wife when we would be driving down the highway and for no reason start blowing the horn. it embarrasses the wife so bad she wants too climb under the seat. lol i will have too try that pulling out of the driveway also lol.
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: DollarCityBoy on October 30, 2011, 10:05:45 PM
Pulling out of driveway this morning...
*honk*honk*honk-
followed by a *honk *honk -when putting it into drive
wife "what was that for?"
me "oh nothing!"

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!  :D ;D :D ;D
Y'all, we are a crazy bunch on this website!
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: Junior on October 31, 2011, 08:06:49 AM
Whew...eat another piece of that SDC purchased taffy you have stashed in a drawer that you have been hiding from the kids and chill! Ha!
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: treed on October 31, 2011, 08:27:25 AM
Maybe I can shed some light on this whistle thing.  I've been an engineer on the Reader Railroad and the ES&NA in Arkansas.
* Stop (brakes applied)
**  Moving forward (in relation to lead locomotive)
*** Backing up (in relation to lead locomotive)
****  Need signals from train
Multiple short blasts means some sort of trouble.
--*-  Approaching grade crossing
- Approaching station

I realize SDC uses variations of the standard signals. There are numerous other signals, but these are the most common.
Tony



Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: sanddunerider on October 31, 2011, 09:14:48 AM
funny rube!!!  \

Now if you could work in the parts about the brakes!!????  and the trees???

Maybe you could charge for the ride,,,,>?>??
Title: Re: The Frisco Train Whistle
Post by: Trevlyn on April 25, 2022, 08:16:11 PM
Just looking at really old threads on here that contain train phrases, lol.
Silver Dollar City's whistle code is like this:
2 short blasts: release brakes, proceed forward
3 blasts: reverse
1 blast: acknowledgement when shoving backwards, conductor signal, etc
2 long blasts are used on most grade crossings on the FSDL route. The engineers like blowing their whistles in fancy ways, which may sound confusing to untrained ears.