Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Okay.... this is something I've only recently begun to pay attention to...



The quiet zone signals that are placed alongside wayside horns. I understand that the indication tells the train crew not to sound the horn at the crossing because all crossing signalization and wayside horn equipment is working properly (unless there's an emergency, of course), but I don't understand any possible indications beyond that. If there is a malfunction with some of the crossing equipment, does the indication just blank out, or are there other possible indications that can be shown with these signals?

Thanks...

fgossage wrote:...If there is a malfunction with some of the crossing equipment, does the indication just blank out, or are there other possible indications that can be shown with these signals?

If there is a malfunction with the wayside horns, the will disappear, and if the isn't showing, the engineer has to sound the horn sequence normally.

I HATE fakelectronic horn signals.
They sound ridiculous and do not coordinate with the locomotive's arrival.

But, it makes sense to aim warning sound down the street and sidewalls, and not have a locomotive's powerful
horn spread all over the area into homes and businesses.

So, this is a good idea.

But why even have the fake horns?
Aren't (o)=(o) and gates with lights, and bells enough?

I feel the same way. I don't care for those horns. I don't mind quiet zones too much, but as long as they work, then it's fine by me.

Those wayside horns should go IMO.

Robert_Gift wrote:But why even have the fake horns?
Aren't (o)=(o) and gates with lights, and bells enough?

If the signals were enough... you wouldn't need the fake horns or the real horns. But we all know that are too many dumb drivers out there that ignore the flashing red lights and even drive around lowered gates... right in front of a train.

There is that small margin of us (probably 2% or so, likely most of us on this forum) that would actually obey the lights, and not try anything stupid.

Quiet zones aren't as fun to railfan; the horns work much better when there are nearby crossings, especially in areas without defect detectors or close enough to a yard to pick up too many end of train devices on a scanner. The faketronic horn signals can still be heard much farther than a regular crossing bell.

IMHO, every quiet zone crossing should have the flashing - only the not with faketronic horns - especially those where the engineer may not have visibility to determine if the crossing signals are working at the time where he would normally sound the horn.

Just last week in Watertown, WI I noticed that the quiet zone is indicated by signs that look like ordinary whistle posts, except there is a circle around and slash across the "W" like the "P" on a "No Parking" sign or the arrows on a No left/right/U-turn sign.

The quiet zone on the CN in downtown Green Bay just had no whistle posts at all.

Interesting. I may have to make some signs like that in the future.

Next time I'm out there I'll shoot a picture of one for you.