14. ENGINE WHISTLE SIGNALS

NOTE: Engine whistle signals must be sounded as prescribed by this rule. The signals are illustrated by “o” for short sounds, and “__” for longer sounds. Each sound of the whistle should be distinct, with intesity and duration proportionate to the distance signal is to be conveyed.

Should the whistle fail while en route, train may proceed, running carefully and ringing engine bell continuously when approaching and passing stations , through yards, over public crossings at grade and around curves. Train dispatcher must be advised of failure from first open train order office and he will, when possible, notify other trains concerned.

Sound	Indication
(a) o	Apply brakes. Stop.
(b) __ __	Release brakes. Proceed.
(c) __ o o o	Flagman protect rear of train.
(d) __ __ __ __	(SINGLE OR TWO TRACKS) Flagman may return from West or South.(MORE THAN TWO TRACKS) Flagman for track No. 2 may return.
(da) __ __ __ __ o	(MORE THAN TWO TRACKS) Flagman for track No. 4 may return.*
(e) __ __ __ __ __	(SINGLE OR TWO TRACKS) Flagman may return from East or North.(NOTE THAN TWO TRACKS) Flagman for track No. 1 may return.
(ea) __ __ __ __ __ o	(MORE THAN TWO TRACKS) Flagman for track No. 3 may return.*
*As prescribed by Rule 99. NOTE: At junctions or other points at which signals 14 (d), (da), (e), or (ea) may apply to flagman of more than one train, care must be exercised to ensure return only of the flagman for which signal intended.
(g) o o	Answer to any signal not otherwise provided for.
(h) o o o	When train is standing – back. Answer to back up signal.When train is running – answer to communicating signal 16 (d).
(j) o o o o	Call for signals.
(k) __ o o	(SINGLE TRACK) To call attention of engine and train crews of trains of the same class in the same direction, inferior trains and trains affected by the signals at train order meeting, waiting or passing points, to signals displayed for a following section, and must hear the answer 14 (k-a) or stop and notify trains of signals displayed.(TWO OR MORE TRACKS) To call attention of engine and train crews of trains of the same class and inferior trains moving in the same direction to signals displayed for a following section and must hear the answer 14 (k-a) or stop and notify trains of signals displayed. (SINGLE, TWO OR MORE TRACKS) To call attention to yard engines and maintenance forces to signals displayed for a following section. NOTE: Signal 14 (k) will not be sounded to trains or yard engines in CTC, or to trains in territories where Rule 251 applies.
(k-a) o o __	Answer to 14 (k)
(l) __ __ o __	(1) At whistle posts. (2) At least 1/4 of a mile from every public crossing at grade (except within the limits of such towns or cities as may be prescribed in special instructions) to be prolonged or repeated according to the speed of the train until the crossing is occupied by the engine or cars. (3) At frequent intervals when view is restricted by weather, curvature or other conditions.
(m) ________	(1) One mile from train order offices, flag stops, the end of two or more tracks, junctions, railway crossings at grade and drawbridges, except within the limits of such towns or cities as may be prescribed in special instructions. (2) When a train stops and a trainman is required, under Rules 41 (c) or 44 (d), to replace torpedoes exploded.
(n) __ __ o	As prescribed by Rule 90.
(o) o __	When double heading – air brakes have failed on leading engine and engineman on second engine must at once take control and stop train. The same signal to be given by the engineman on second engine as soon as he has control of the air brakes.
(p) Succession of short sounds	Alarm for persons or animals on the track.
(q) __ o	When running against the current of traffic: (1) At frequent intervals and approaching stations, curves or other points where view may be obscured. (2) Approaching passenger or freight trains and when passing freight trains. (3) Preceding the signals prescribed by (d) and (e).
(r) o o o o o o	To notify track forces of fire on or near right of way.

15. The explosion of one or more torpedoes, in the absence of a more restrictive signal indicates proceed, but at restricted speed for 2000 yards from the point where the torpedoes were exploded.

Where the use of torpedoes is required duplicates should be placed on the opposite rail to explode simultaneously.

Torpedoes exploded by other than a train or engine must be replaced immediately.

Torpedoes must not be placed near stations nor on public crossings at grade.

Though our layout is essentially shut down each year over the summer months (from mid-May to the end of August), it is hardly a quiet time for the CP Sudbury Division. The summer season is when layout expansion work, heavy construction and miscellaneous major projects can occur without the interruption of club operating sessions or open houses to get in the way.

The summer of 2024 was particularly busy with a number of major projects including; a complete change-out of the turnout ground throws for Tortoise switch machines within our Copper Cliff / Creosote industrial area, CTC signaling and logic programming at Stinson siding, fluorescent to LED valence lighting replacement over many aisles, and the construction of a maintenance platform within our ‘sky helix’ that spirals between floors connecting Sprecher and Larchwood.

The ‘sky helix’ spiralling between floors connecting Sprecher and Larchwood. Preparations to finish the mainline required a maintenance platform be built to climb into this helix from the main floor.

Possibly the most exciting project of the summer was a complete clean-out of all the stuff we’ve stored for many, many years now on the top floor. Well, the actual cleaning part sucked as it was tough and took what seemed forever, but it was done to clear the way for our Cartier Sub mainline to finally be completed. As August ended, we had already begun the benchwork for Sturgeon Falls, and planning for the huge 14-track staging yard (representing the entire CPR west of Cartier ON) that will be built above it. That is the exciting part.

Autumn and colder weather also marks the beginning of another operating season for the CP Sudbury Division layout, with five op sessions and two dates where we’re open for the public. A number of operational projects also occurred prior to the operating season beginning, mainly involving the addition and preparation of new equipment (weathering rolling stock, DCC programming of locomotives, etc.) along with any modifications or updates required by our car-forwarding/waybill system.

Two strings of our new Rapido NSC reefers form a backdrop behind recently retired stand-ins. The three reefers in the middle are the first Rapido models we weathered. Though they served faithfully for nearly two decades, these old stand-in ‘foobies’ were never accurate models.

In addition to the usual operational projects, this summer also saw us replace an entire fleet of cars, and even a piece of office furniture. Replacements of car fleets are not common, as the vast majority of our rolling stock are high-quality models which fairly accurately represent their prototypes. But some of our freight cars are ‘placeholders’ so to speak. These are cars too important or iconic to not have within our operations, and so we utilize inaccurate models or ‘foobies’ (to use modeller’s jargon) that appear close enough. If or when accurate replacements become available then these foobie fleets get replaced, and we have blogged about this topic in the past.

Duelling CP 286381’s. Only a minority of CP’s 400+ fleet of 50ft mechanical reefers were ever repainted into the CP Rail scheme, so it shouldn’t be surprising that a road number Rapido selected would conflict one of our old cars. Rapido’s accurate model (left) versus an old Athearn ‘blue-box’ repainted version (right).

The mass replacement which occurred this past summer was our CP mechanical refrigerated boxcar fleet. These reefers were staples on CP’s hot transcon freights through the 1970s, with large blocks appearing right on the head-end of freights like #952. Our operations wouldn’t be right without them. So with the exception of a single 40ft kitbashed model of a CP 285600-series car, our entire fleet of mechanical reefers were stand-ins consisting of Athearn ‘blue-box’ models, and some Accurail outside-braced 50’ boxcar bashes. These were all retired thanks to a club bulk purchase of brand new Rapido NSC-built CP reefers.

Side-by-side comparison of an old Athearn ‘blue-box’ reefer (left) with a new Rapido NSC model (right). Though the Athearn cars represented another prototype (the Hawker-Siddeley smooth-sided reefer) they were all retired thanks to the Rapido car being a 100% correct model of an NSC-built outside-braced reefer.

Replacing office fixtures is even more uncommon than rolling stock retirements, since there are so few that we utilize in club operations. In fact, we believe this to be the first instance. Our venerable and iconic Crew Call Board, a grid-marked whiteboard employed since our first operating sessions began well over 20 years ago, had to be replaced.

As the layout expanded and new freights continued to be added to our operations over the decades, we’d been stretching the old board past its original capacities. Three additional rows were squeezed in over time. We even saved room by listing both the Montreal and Toronto sections of “The Canadian” within one line. However, we broke the board after our first nickel ore train was inaugurated (INCO Job 2), and had no room left when the time came to add hotshot transcon freights 901/902 to our operating scheme.

Comparison of our old Crew Callboard (as photographed in 2021) with the new replacement board ready to go for our 14 September 2024 op session. After adding transcon freight 949 and INCO Job 2 to club operations a few months ago, we ran out of room for trains 901/902.

With our resent summer work beginning the push to finish our Cartier Sub mainline from North Bay to Cartier staging, it wasn’t hard to think of building towards the future. So, we acquired a very large whiteboard and grid-marked it with 40 rows. All those rows will allow us to list every mainline freight and local that was ever run on a daily basis over the CP Sudbury Division, with accommodation for a few extras and second sections too. Our only worry now is will we have enough operators to run them all? Thinking back to our lean beginnings during the WRMRC’s fledgling years, that is actually a remarkable thing to have to worry about.

Waterloo Region Model Railway Club

Modeling CP Rail's Sudbury Division in the 1970s

1962 Uniform Code of Operating Rules – Engine Whistle Signals

14. ENGINE WHISTLE SIGNALS

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