I know that locomotive whistles (and horns) were/are used to signal intentions to other railroad workers and as a warning at road crossings. But I’ve never figured out what bells on locomotives were for. I remember as a kid standing on a station platform as the train pulled in and hearing the “ding-ding-ding” of the diesel loco. Just curious.
the goat
When an engine starts moving, the bell must be rung as a warning. Sort of like those ‘back up’ buzzers you hear on construction equipment or fork lift trucks…
Jim
Jim,
Would that be true also for a locomotive slowly “taxiing” into a station? And, was it up to a certain MPH or distance from a certain point?
Tom
There can be quite a crowd-based din on the deck at passenger stations, and a slowing steamer doesn’t make a great deal of noise. A bell, with its distinctive tone and cyclic emission, is bound to get attention, whereas a steam whistle would be jarring and unnecessary. My guess.
Most rule books require the bell to be rung when moving though a passenger loading area. I am not sure of any speed when the bell is to be turned off, but restricted speed is usually considered to be 15-20 mph, depending on which rule book you read. I would think the bell will be rung approaching the platform, until the train is stopped. And started again when departing. Once the train clears the platform, the bell can be stopped. Ringing of the bell is also used when there is a ban on using the whistle in some urban areas. Current federal law superceeds these bans unless the city pays for ‘No Blow’ crossing protection(gates and directional speakers that sound the warning at each crossing).
Jim
Thanks folks, some good answers.
the goat
One Southern short line had two bells on their steam locomotives. The forward-mounted one was required to be sounded at all times while the train was in motion, by court order.
Seems some local citizens paid the inevitable penalty for trying to occupy a grade crossing at the same time as a locomotive. At the civil trial, a claim was made that the plaintiffs hadn’t been aware that the train was coming, even with crossbucks (carrying the traditional STOP - LOOK - LISTEN markings) and the locomotive whistle blowing. In finding for the plaintiffs, the judge added the requirement for the constantly-ringing bell.
I wonder how the judge was related to the plaintiffs!
Chuck
I have only a single loop for a main line and one station. I run four or five circuits of the loop, passing the station as if it weren’t there. Am I supposed to ring the bell as I pass the station?
What if I were an express, not stopping as a normal rule?
BB
Bruce, you wouldn’t…not on the pass-throughs, and not on your layout. The passenger station would be on a siding, anyway, and the incoming or departing train would move slowly on that siding, particularly around passenger-laden platforms; hence, the bell to warn of train movement. But a passing freight, if the outer tracks were clear and high speed, then they would continue. If the through tracks are part of a yard in which the station is located, then the trains would follow a yard speed limit.
Can someone confirm, please.
The general rule today is that the bell should be rung when blowing for a grade crossing, approaching a tunnel or bridge, when a train is stopping or starting, and approaching an area with lots of people around. The standard procedure for approaching a station is to blow a short blast on the horn then ring the bell until the train stops. Then once it begins moving again two short blasts are blown, and the bell is rung until the train is clear. Trains passing through a station or numerous crossings or areas where there’s a lot of people standing near the tracks should also ring the bell.
When the horn on a diesel locomotive is blown, the bell comes on automaticaly and has to shut off manualy.