Section 15: Whistle Boards

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A whistle board instructs the driver to sound the train's whistle or horn. Early whistle boards generally had the word "Whistle" written in full [15.1]. A variant of this existed at the north end of Polhill Tunnel where the board read "Whistle for at least ¼ mile" [15.2].

[15.1] Whistle Board (North British Railway).	[15.2] Whistle Board at north end of Polhill Tunnel.

The Great Western Railway had boards lettered "SW", signifying "Sound Whistle" [15.3], while signs bearing just a letter "W" became increasingly common on other companies' lines [15.4 & 15.5].

[15.3] Whistle Board (GWR).	[15.4] Whistle Board.	[15.5] Whistle Board.

British Rail introduced a standard form of whistle board which was circular and had a grey or blue border [15.6].

[15.6] Whistle Board.

Special illuminated whistle signs were provided at Glasgow Central in 1971. These could be switched on when trains were stabled in the sidings and it was necessary to warn staff about the line. The signs displayed either a horn symbol [15.7] or the words "Sound Horn" [15.8]. Illuminated "Sound Horn" signs were also installed at Lanark in 1973. Those at Lanark were removed in 1986, while the last examples at Glasgow Central remained until 2007.

[15.7] Illuminated Whistle Sign (Scottish Region).	[15.8] Illuminated Whistle Sign (Scottish Region).

New experimental whistle boards were introduced at certain user-worked level crossings on the Scottish Region from 1993 [15.9]. Where this sign is provided, the driver must sound the two-tone horn continuously until the train is about 50 yards from the crossing.

[15.9] 'Continuous' Whistle Board (Scottish Region).

An unusual variant of whistle board with a red border [15.10] is installed on the Down direction approach to Penrhiwtyn user-worked level crossing, between Briton Ferry and Neath.

[15.10] Whistle Board with Red Border.

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