I've often wondered this, but have found nothing on it.

Can anyone divulge the who, what, when, (eliminating the where), how (how long) and why of what most if not everyone calls the trademark of the EBT?

I've seen an EBT rule book printed somewhere and it showed road crossing whistling as two longs and two shorts. Not sure if this is what you're talking about or not, but I think only the Pennsy used this same type whistle warning.

Les

It may very well be that...seems they start off one short, a long, short then long again.

So it was possibly adapted from the PRR?

I used to have an old cast iron whistle post reputedly from ACL showing two longs followed by two shorts for grade crossings. Maybe more roads used it a very long time ago.

dave

The Great Northern in 1929 for one, and also the Wiscasset & Quebec in 1895. So both the big and the little used it. What I want to know is when it was changed to two longs a short and a long?

No wonder these threads get so long and boring.

could we possibly stick to topic, that being the EBT use/creation/adaptation/continuation/ of said whistling?

...that was the original question.

EBT
eat beans & toot

You ask the question and now you complain because you didn't get the answer wrapped up in a neat package. Nice.

At the risk of further boring the original poster (a risk I'll take), when did the traditional FRA whistle rule start?

You call it boring

I call it interesting and informative

just because people stray off topic and talk about the GN as opposed to the ebt doesn't mean something is wrong

if you are reffering to the crossing whistle signal, as of August 1, 1937:

"Two long followed by two short blasts of the whistle is the signal for approaching tunnels and highway crossings at grade and must be given one quarter of a mile before reaching tunnels and such crossings.

"An additional crossing whistle shall be given on the approach to the crossing and whistle should be blown until the engine or train arrives on the crossing."

Cannot speak to when or why the signal went into use. today they use the customary two longs, a short and a long.

Thanks, Chris. Didn't know all that.

I think the original question may refer to the whistle "cadence". I've often wondered about this myself. Each crossing blast is identical. Any idea how the "cadence" came about?

Not sure what you mean by "whistle "cadence"".

Not sure what you mean by "whistle "cadence"".[/quote]
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I have scenes of EBT in live sound dating since 1979.

The signature EBT grade crossing whistle cadence consists of a LONG of volume and duration sufficient to recognizeably announce the engine, then a distinct pause, then another LONG at least as long as the first, holding at maximum volume until it ends abruptly and is INSTANTLY punctuated with a SHORT, then a longer pause, then a LONG that has duration and tone of the driver's choosing.

The abrupt SHORT after the second LONG is the EBT signature whistle cadence, common to all EBT grade crossing whistle sequences. Whether it's the banshee screamer on No. 17 or the Pennsy passenger whistle on No. 12, it fits. It's beautiful and it grows on you. I use it exclusively whenever it's my turn to signal for the next crossing.

OOOOO.....OOOOOO-OO.....OOOOOooo

Now that it's been defined so precisely, I will point out that said crossing whistle pattern/cadence is also VERY common on a lot of vintage recordings of the PRR from the 1950's that I own, though I will agree that the EBT whittles the gap between the second and third whistles to as much of a minimum as seemingly possible.........

you can see and hear what he's talking about here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td9MdgKb ... re=related