Hello I routinely monitor Railroad Radios on my scanner, and would like to know what the tone that sounds before the train talks to the dispatcher is? What is the wattage on most Railroad radios? Do Railroads use repeaters? I ask this because I live in Wilmette a mile form the UP Knenosha-sub and can hear the train radio but not the dispatcher why is this? And finally do most train crews use propers radio lingo (over,out, roger, etc,ect...)? Please let me know thank you.
The tone is a radio identfier its a tone blurb giving radio or unit number
Most Locomotive radio's are 45/50 watt
Railroads do not use repeaters but remote controlled base units.
VHF basicly has line of sight transmiision only around 12 miles if antenna is at 50 feet height +/-
No train crews hardly ever use formal over out etc unless a FRA or supervisor is present.
Most railroaders will use Railroad / unit/train number but not over/out .