Use the whistles!

[Ash]

This may sound like a rant and I'm sorry but, anyone who does not use the whistles frequently listen up. I have had way to many derailments/head on collisions/wrecks because of a locomotive engineer not using the whistle. It's there for a reason, and that reason is to warn other people/trains that you are on "that" track. ( 0 is short - is long) When you are about to move forward blow that whistle " - - " when you stop blow the whistle " - " when you are going backwards blow it " 0 0 0 " if you derail blow it " - - - " if there is a train on the same track or anything else blow it like " 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 " coming to a crossing " - - 0 - ". When I am running in the middle of no where I'll sometimes quill it a ton just for fun, and to let anyone near me that I am currently there. Please do this, so that it is more realistic in the game, and so that you don't have to be re-railing a ton of stuff frequently. Thank you for reading this, I hope you take it to your game. :)

[STRATOCH1EF]

I totally agree.
I admit I get lazy, but it is actually helpful when working with your buddies. And its satisfying when done somewhat properly

[Luna]

In multiplayer the non hosts cant hear it if the train isnt close enough to be rendered in.

[RetroACE135]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2636362849

Literally the first thing I ever did when I started playing this game and talking on the forums was write this guide because I got tired of playing Hide-and-go-Crash during multiplayer games. (Shameless plug, I know. lol)

I haven't updated it in a while, mostly because there really isn't much to add. I managed to write the basics of whistle signals, but now that you mentioned about the three long bursts, I do remember seeing where that signifies a "Distress Call/Warning" for anybody near the locomotive.

Also, I know that not all railroads used the same whistle signals (my guide uses Union Pacific's signaling), and some even had them reversed. Each and every railroad just kinda had their own "code" with similarities and differences from others.

But yeah, I hope you don't mind me sharing that guide. I figure I could help other people out as well! Happy railroading!

[Ash]

RetroACE135, I don't mind at all. :)

[Sir. CJ]

Problem with the whistles is basically pointless for non host members as the distance of the whistle can be heard longer from the host and alot less from non host players. I actually tested the range by cars and for non host members its about 7-8 cars before you stop hearing the whistle and its also about 9-12 cars you stop seeing the locomotive. So really if your the host your range is doubled in seeing engines and hearing them. For non host players they have lot less time to see you and less time to react before the derail happens. So really most likely people are using whistle but its either because they cant hear it due to range or and much less reaction time to see you. And im guessing that why we got the teleport phone and Player icons on the map showing where everyone is at is a temporally solution for that until the sound and view range is increased for non host players.

[CMDR Sweeper]

Yeah once it is derendered for the clients, it is by all technicalities gone for the client.
So you can whistle, holler, detonate a bomb, pee on rolling stock, (Insert favourite terror activity here) and the client will never see or hear of it until they get within render distance.

So on our narrow gauge, whistles are optional and more a "toy".
If we get enough traffic to have issues, well we will have to do some track engineering to solve and avoid conflicts as that is the only reliable solution.

[steholliday]

I'm playing this solo, so I tend to only blow the whistle if my wife's laid near me having a crafty nap!

[blevinsdd]

Originally posted by timothybaghurst:

This may sound like a rant and I'm sorry but, anyone who does not use the whistles frequently listen up. I have had way to many derailments/head on collisions/wrecks because of a locomotive engineer not using the whistle. It's there for a reason, and that reason is to warn other people/trains that you are on "that" track. ( 0 is short - is long) When you are about to move forward blow that whistle " - - " when you stop blow the whistle " - " when you are going backwards blow it " 0 0 0 " if you derail blow it " - - - " if there is a train on the same track or anything else blow it like " 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 " coming to a crossing " - - 0 - ". When I am running in the middle of no where I'll sometimes quill it a ton just for fun, and to let anyone near me that I am currently there. Please do this, so that it is more realistic in the game, and so that you don't have to be re-railing a ton of stuff frequently. Thank you for reading this, I hope you take it to your game. :)

I would suggest you have a dedicated dispatcher (they can also be doing engineer/brakeman, etc.) to keep your railroad from having "accidents". Using some modified scheduling helps, train orders, etc.

[wladi | astragon]

I use the whistle in singleplayer because I can't whistle irl 😢

But in multiplayer, yes, use it for safety! :D