What are the situations that require an engineer to sound the bell?
From NORAC (and I’m sure they’re pretty standard across the board):
The term “Roadway Workers” refers to folks working on or around the tracks, not to folks who happen to be working on an adjacent highway.
The bell is often sounded while traversing station platforms.
I don’t know how this plays out in quiet zones.
Varies with state law. CFR 49 222.22 (e) requires the bell to be rung at any crossing when required by state law; CFR does not pre-empt state law in this regard. When a quiet zone is established under CFR 49 222 the bell does not have to be rung (unless otherwise required by state law) for the purpose of the grade crossing only. For any other reason that the bell would be required to be rung, CFR 49 222 does not preclude that. Thus for warning to roadway workers, warning to trespassers, reverse moves, etc., the bell would still be rung.
RWM
Again the key is “If the engine is equipped”
The CFR does not require engines to have a bell, It does, if engine is euipped, that that bell is functioning.
It is Railroad rules that require the bell to be used at certain places like in above post NORAC example.
Great Info. Thanks.
In Railway Productions’ “Cab Ride from Kansas City to Chicago” DVDs, when the train comes into the Chicago quite zones, the engineer rang the bell almost all the way to Union Station without ever shutting it off. With all those crossings through there, it would be a chore to turn the bell on and off I would think.
We ring the bells while going through the quiet zones at Nevada, Ames, and Denison. All in Iowa.
Jeff
Nah - very easy, in fact.
Holy echoing loudness Batman!
I’m pretty sure the Canadian laws states that all locomotives shall be equipped with a bell and if it is NFG, you’re supposed to fix it ASAP.
I belive US law does require all engines to have a bell. I’m not employed as a railroad worker so maybe someone can clarify this. I seem to remember when the Flying Scottsman visited the US, it was reqired to have a bell fitted to be in compliance with US law.
No US law says that Engines need to have a bell, the Code of federal Regulations does not even mention the bell, it does mention that all appurtenances on an engine must be functioning, so again if equipped it must work.
Locomotives like MU’s or some Cab cars (LIRR) do not have bells either.
The Flying scotchman may have needed a bell to comply with railroad regulations by whatever railroads the engine traveled over but not by federal law.
the bell is rang anytime you start to move , when moving along side of standing equipment , in work areas , in all engine service tracks, over grade crossings,
that was established in second post already.