I have posted a question regarding this locomotive about how the bearings were designed. But, I have another question.
There is a way to gain access into the cab with the help of a set of stairs. Once inside the cab you can see the gauges and ring the bell. This loco needs some serious TLC, but they are working on it. The bell can be rung with a rope which is on the fireman’s side. Is this right? Did the fireman have to ring the bell?
Most of the bell cords that I’ve seen go back on the fireman’s side, but have seen a few on the engineer’s side. If the cord was on the fireman’s side, he would have to ring the bell in addition to his other duties. Many engines that were equipped with air ringers also had a bell cord. If the engine had a air ringer the control valve would be on the engineers side.
Having been in many steam locomotive cabs, the bell rope is usually handled by the fireman. Bells are mostly rung approaching stations. Most railroad rule books discouraged firing in station areas due to smoke and cinders so the fireman usually had no trouble handling the bell. If the bell is equipped with an air ringer the control is on the engineer side. Also, bells are rung at grade crossings. It wouldn’t be practical for the engineer to try to ring the bell AND blow the whistle at the same time, PLUS keep a hand on the brake valve. So the fireman gets the bell rope on his side.
I recall the last days of steam and sneaking off to the Columbus Union Station to watch trains…I recall vividly there wasn’t any bell ringing as the passenger trains glided to a stop.I recall there wasn’t much fanfare when these trains departed other then one or two short whistle blast.Oddily when one of these trains was diesel powered the bell would be ringing and ring during the stop.
Keeping a hand on the brake?
Is that a modern thing for tourist roads?
I know a lot of the old line engineers would use the throttle to stop and tap the brake as needed.
I been told by PRR men that had worked with my Grandfather that my Grandfather could stop on their train on the mark by using that method.
This is off topic, but Brakie, can you expand on that? Are you talking about simply closing the throttle and letting cylinder vacuum and friction slow the train, or using a little reverse to brake?
In the first case, I thought there were vacuum relief valves, and the second (using the reverse lever just off center) I assumed was never done until reading about helpers in the west drifting down grade doing just that.
Now I’m getting off topic on my off topic question…
Matt Goodman
Columbus, Oh
ok, now back to ringing the bell. wasn’t there a railroad in Mississippi that had two bells on their locomotives? one of which rang at all times the engine was moving?
i thought i read that somewhere but i forgot the exact story. i think it was the result of a lawsuit about an accident where the injured party claimed that the bell wasn’t ringing when it should have been.
grizlump
p.s. i worked with an engineer we called “hunchback” since he was always ringing the bell so much.
Hey everyone,
I appreciate the responses. I guess I learn something new everyday.
Thank you.
The rope on the fireman’s side is only there as a redundant control if the air ringer fails.
Circumstances that necessitate sounding the bell are too many to list, but yes approaching a station or workmen is one of them.
FYI: A fireman has plenty to do while pulling into a station. In fact, starting and stopping are a fireman’s busiest moments. Cruising down the line is the easy part.