A KATY Whistleboard

Charlie Goertz, a great friend of the Elgin Depot Museum, brought us this KATY Whistleboard from his collection. The X on the sign meant that the engineer had to blow his whistle for a crossing up ahead. Texas Law required them to be placed 80 Rods in advance of the road crossing or other place where the whistle was to be sounded. Today it is referred to as 1/4 mile in advance, or around 1400 feet. This, like most KATY signs, was made of cast iron.