Whistle blast at whistleposts

[Hermann Kuhne]

Currently on the Steam website for Railworks a discussion on the use of the whistle at different signposts from around the world. Are there anybody out there that can shed some light/sound on the use of the whistle in specifically South Africa from the steam era to the present? Was it only used at Wsignposts and how was it used. Specific distinguishable blasts?

[Steve Appleton]

A whistle sign in SA consists of a white oval shape (actually more like a horizontal rectangle (about 400 x 200 mm) with semi-circular-rounded ends left and right) bordered by a white reflective edge about 40 mm wide.
There are usually two such signs placed a few hundred metres apart on the right side of the track on the approach to a level crossing. The physical sign can be made as an exact-size oval shape or be "painted" onto a black rectangular background.
I believe the signs originally had a black "W" for "whistle" inscribed on them, but this was apparently removed because it was unnecessary and also was not bilingual.
Between the hours of 05:00-23:00, the driver is required to sound the whistle or hooter for at least three seconds between the first and second signs. If no signs are provided, the driver must sound the whistle after 400 metres and before 125 metres on the approach to a level crossing.
Should the driver need to give an additional warning sound for any reason (restricted view or to prevent an accident) the driver must give such a warning.
Between 23:00 and 05:00, the driver does not legally have to give a warning and should not sound the whistle unless circumstances require it to prevent an accident.

There are no specific sound sequences prescribed. In practice on the approach to busy unguarded crossings, the driver will sound the whilstle almost continuously right up to the crossing unless he is certain that the traffic has stopped. At farm crossings where there is no traffic, a short quick sound is all that may be given.

The driver also required to sound the whistle on the approach to any track workers where white flags are displayed alongside the track. The whistle is required to be sounded from the flag/s right up to the workers.

[Hermann Kuhne]

Thank you Steve. Clears it up.