[MRCA] code wheel

[Christopher Bowne]

Link to details on train whistle signals.  Interesting that  the signals are described as a series of long and short whistle blasts, and all seem to be directly translatable to Morse characters, however, no mention of a relationship to Morse in the article.  The "Q" signal approaching a grade crossing is apparently universally used at least here in the US...will keep an ear out for it around here, the Amtrak mainline along the shore between NYC and Boston passes within a half mile of here, we hear the whistles (actually now air horns on the diesels and electrics) all the time.  Until a few years ago, all the trains passing through here were diesel powered, the electrified section toward NYC did not start until New Haven,  I think the entire shoreline route between NYC and Boston is now electrified.

 Train whistle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



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| Train whistle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaA train whistle or air whistle (originally referred to as a steam trumpet) is an audible signaling device on a steam locomotive used to warn that the train is appro... |
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  On Friday, April 24, 2015 2:32 PM, Tim <timsamm at gmail.com> wrote:
   

 I had wondered about the "Railroad Q" signal.  Apparently a holdover from the UK when a Royal Navy vessel had the Queen aboard.  "Stand Clear" etc....

Sending Q on the air horns at crossings seems to be pretty universal around here.  Who knew?  LOL
Tim
N6CC

On Fri, Apr 24, 2015 at 5:39 AM, Rob Flory <farmer.rob.flory at gmail.com> wrote:

The railroad engineers have such funky fists that it was not until I read in an old magazine that they send Morse Q at grade crossings that I recognized it as such.  Their spacings are all over the place.  

I also did not recognize that the Rush instrumental YYZ is based on the Morse ID for Toronto airport, that they must have heard coming out of the cockpit on their way back from tour.  Again, funky timing.

RF

On Thu, Apr 23, 2015 at 2:05 PM, B. Smith <smithab11 at comcast.net> wrote:

  Interesting, it also gives the spacing information.
 Z
 
 On 4/23/2015 1:43 PM, Al Klase wrote:
  
 Breck,
 
 3:1 anywhere I've ever seen it.  Is the Bureau of Standards good enough?
 
 
 
 
 Al
 Al Klase – N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/

 On 4/23/2015 11:18 AM, B. Smith wrote:
  
Interesting. Is the 3:1   a published International  Standard or perhaps just a ham standard that has developed over the years? 
 
 
 Z 
 
 On 4/23/2015 2:56 AM, Mike Morrow wrote: 
 
 
What about that dot to dash ratio. Looks like about 5:1?  A ratio 
 of 3:1 would be quite a bit of "swing"... 
 
 A dash:dot ratio of 3:1 would be NO swing at all.  That is the exact definition of the proper lenghth of dash compared to dot for zero weighting. 
 
 
 
 
  
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