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Southern Railway Whistle Boards vs. "W" and Mileposts
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Author:  JohnHillier [ Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Southern Railway Whistle Boards vs. "W" and Mileposts
Does anyone here have any information on the "- - . -" whistle boards and the origin versus the square "W" which is more common? I was interested on what measurements the former boards were and if they were more widespread than I know of. The only railroad I recall using them is the Southern, but I'm sure maybe other railroads had something similar. What signage did the WP&Y use?

My other questions involves the location of mileposts. I would really like to know some short museum lines have placed "0" and if you had a dogbone pattern railroad like we do at Dollywood, how would you include the reverse loops.

Thank you for your help. I'm starting a small side project to add signage to the railroad here at Dollywood.
Author:  HOD Bill [ Tue Sep 14, 2010 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Southern Railway Whistle Boards vs. "W" and Mileposts
The old (abandoned) AB&C line, later Atlantic Coast Line, from Bessemer,AL to Parkwook, AL has 2 concrete whistle posts still intact. They are triangular, like the mile posts also found on the line, with a flat side facing traffic. They are painted white with the - - O - is painted vertically in black on the face.
Bill
Author:  sc 'doc' lewis [ Tue Sep 14, 2010 7:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Southern Railway Whistle Boards vs. "W" and Mileposts
The link below is to a whistle board that was recently sold on eBay in which the seller had a tape measure in the photo. By my feeble attempts, it would appear to be about 29" long and 14.5" to15" wide; paint on aluminum. I have seen these come up with some frequency on eBay...so there seems to be little shortage of this style (Note that this one sold for $12.50 plus shipping -- as compared to Pennsylvania Railroad cast-iron keystone whistle markers which typically are sold for around $200.00). If the origins of the sign is mentioned in a listing it only seems to be Southern Rail...I have not seen any other line mentioned as the user of this form of whistle marker (but others may know differently).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Whistle-crossing-sign-/200513127753?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eaf838549

Note that the link is short-lived, removed by eBay after a certain length of time.

sc 'doc' lewis
Author:  Stephen S. Syfrett [ Tue Sep 14, 2010 9:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Southern Railway Whistle Boards vs. "W" and Mileposts
The typical, modern heavy gage aluminum whistle post as found on NS, SR, CofGA, ACL, SAL, SCL, and probably others, measured overall 36 inches tall and 12 inches wide. The top of the sign was arched (r = 12 inches, approx.) from the top to a point 1 3/4 inches down terminating in sharp corners at the sides. At about 9 inches above the bottom the sides curved inward to a width of 5 1/8 inches at the base. The bottom 2 3/4 inches was the mounting tab, which was sandwiched between two pieces of angle and secured with 1/4 inch hex head bolts or slotted round head screws, both with split-ring lock washers and hex nuts. The angle pieces were bolted to a square plate welded on top of a steel tube. The square plate was 5 inches square by 1/4 inch thick. The galvanized steel tubular post was about 2 1/4 inches od.

The - - o - markings were typically black paint on white reflective paint or media (vinyl ?) adhered to the metal plate, which is about 1/4 inch thick. The bars were 3 inches thick with the top of the first being 4 1/2 inches below the crown. Separation between the first and second bar was 2 15/16 inch, but between the bottom of the second bar and the "O" was only 1 1/2 inch. The "O" was 4 inches in diameter, 1 1/2 inches above the 3rd (last) bar.

I have seen similar signs that had a slight top-to-bottom taper on the sides. I do not have any information on the taper.

These large signs have generally been replaced over the last 30 or so years by the "W" marker, probably because of cost considerations. The "W" marker plates are usually 12 inches square with rounded (r = 1 1/2 inches, approx.) corners. The "W" is 8 inches high, centered between top and bottom of the plate, 10 inches wide at the top and 6 1/4 inches wide at the bottom. The stroke is 1 3/8 inches wide. The aluminum plate is 1/8 inch thick. I've seen these with both a painted (nonreflective) white surface with black "W" and reflective paint or vinyl with the black "W".

The ACL also used thick, flat (non-triangular) concrete whistle posts. Several of these used to remain along the line between Albany and Thomasville, GA. I don't have dimensions on these, but one was donated to the local history museum around 5 years ago and I can get measurements if anyone is interested.
Author:  Matt Bumgarner [ Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Southern Railway Whistle Boards vs. "W" and Mileposts
The Clinchfield used a cast iron paddle similiar to the Southerns, but with a cast "W" in the center of the paddle.

Matt Bumgarner
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