QUESTION ABOUT LOCOMOTIVE BELLS

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

When are the bells of locomotives activated? When they are in the switchyards, going through crossing grades, or backing up?

My grandfather was a mechanic with Missouri Pacific before Up got them, and I forgot to ask him.

Thanks.

2

According the Operating Rules, bells are sounded:

  • Prior to beginning movement.
  • Approaching and passing: grade crossings; station platforms; standing trains; and persons near right of way.
  • When moving within a service facilty.
  • Bells should not be used continuously in switching operations.

Nick

3

Thank you Nick. It was something I never knew about. Thank you very much.

4

The bell is supposed to rung any time the locomotive is backing up, like when an engine is backing onto a train. I think this wouldn’t be required in switchyards where the engine would be going back and forth all the time?? Generally on the line I grew up along, the engineer would start ringing the bell a few seconds before beginning to blow the whistle for the grade crossing, and continue until at least the first part of the train was thru the crossing.

5

There was one railroad in the South which had TWO bells on each loco, and rang one continuously. That was the result of a court ruling that found the railroad negligent because the people injured in a grade crossing accident claimed they hadn’t heard the train coming. (Steam loco, normal whistle signal, … !!! Bet all the witnesses were members of the plaintiff’s family.)

Chuck

6

One thing I would like to know about:

Just as locomotives use various types of horns, it would be good to know about the various types of bells. No one has mentioned this on the forum.

I enjoy listening to “railroad related” sounds and have noticed for years the differences between the bell clanks among various locomotives.

For example if you go to http://www.broadway-limited.com click on the sound sample for the RSD15, the bell sound is the same exact one I used to hear on Amtrak SDP40fs. Clilck on the C30-7 and that’s the bell I heard on SCL U-Boats.

From what a friend tells me the bell’s composition (brass, iron, etc.,) is the major factor in a bell’s sound.

I’m hoping that someone here knows of a website explaining the types of bells used on locomotives over the years, steam, diesel, and electric.