Which crossing signal bells do you like better?Electronic with speakers or metal mechanical?I like the metal bells better because they are louder and the purpose of a warning device that makes sound is to be loud and clear.I can hear the metal bells from a few blocks away,the electronic ones can’t be heard until you are almost up on them.
Metal
What we like or dislike is of no consequence; electronic bells are here to stay because they are cheaper to manufacture and require far less maintenance than a mechanical bell. For the railroads, it’s a matter of economics and reliability.