After reading the report in The Free Press article about the train whistle, I would like to share my opinion.
I am in favour of keeping the train whistle alive, for the following reasons. Whistles have been a part of Fernie heritage since the rebuilding of the town after the fire of 1908. Whistles started out with steam engines as safety warnings for different pressures. Later they were used for safety on railroads and sea travel, to heavy industry. In Fernie whistles were used as curfew, MNFW shops had whistles for work or no work at the mines. They were used for mine disasters. Most train whistles represent the economy. More whistles more freight, the greater the economy.
Most of all the train whistles I ever heard are a minority, compared to the everyday whistles you hear living in Fernie. Some whistles in Fernie last hours and shake windows, buildings and relocate pets to different sections of the neighbourhood.
Some whistles are found in our neighbourhood at different blocks in town. Some start whistling Friday night and don’t end until Sunday, (longer on holiday weekends.) Occasionally a whistle blower gets them stopped, most often a shift worker. Once again I have never heard a train whistle lasting more than four blasts, two long, two short.
Long may the train whistle blow! I would like to see a petition for those in favour of the train whistle people to come to Fernie because they love it. Why change it? Toot! Toot!
Joe Macosko
Fernie