Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1911 — Curbing the Whistle. [ARTICLE]

Curbing the Whistle.

The laws of Massachusetts give the railroad commissioners power to suspend whistling upon approaching a grade crossing, and numerous peti-tions-are annually brought by those who are disturbed by these alarms, when given at night, to have them suspended. Favorable action is usually the result if the crossing Is properly guarded. It Is petitions of this character that permits a train running between Boston and Braintree to go the entire distance without a yip from the locomotive whistle, although a number of level crossings intervene. Locomotive whistles are divided into three classes, viz.: The shrill, deep and chime. The latter was, at one time, generally used on the New Haven road, and its adoption Is said to have been due to a whim of one of the company’s officials. Xt will be noticed that the whistle is located upon the dome of the locomotive, the end nearest to the cab. This Is due to the faet that the steam pressure is greatest at this point, and means that the whistle, when blown, will reach a maximum of intensity.