What was the standard when a train would use their bell? Was it only when crossing a road, or in a yard, or never. I got my sound unit going and wanted to “act” proto on it’s use. I must say, sound does add and element to operating [tup]
That’s a good question dthurman… I’d like to know the answer to that one myself. I do recall hearing a bell a while back on a UP freight train that was coming through town, and if memory serves me right, it came to a stop. Not sure if the bell ringing and it stopping work together or not. Hope someone comes along that can answer this.
Tracklayer
I mostly hear the bells in yard runs. I do know that on late road units the bell is tied into the whistle and, I believe, must be cancelled manually after the whistle is blown.
The bell is a standard warning sign of a moving train. Most rule books instruct the engineer to sound the bell when starting to move, or when moving slowly through a congested area(like a station or grade crossing).
Jim Bernier
I usually keep mine on when Im puttering around in a yard shifting cars, you know, gotta keep the warning out for the switchmen.
I do notice that all LIRR trains that travel through the thick suburban areas of Long Island keep the bell ringing constantly from the time they enter a neighborhood untill they leave, they barely have enough time to start a new set of horn blasts between crossing gates.
Yep. I remember now. The train came creeping into town with it’s bell ringing, and continued to do so until it came to a complete stop. After about twenty minutes, the ringing started again as the train started moving again. I’ll start paying more attention one of these days…
Thanks guys.
Tracklayer
I looked through my 1945 edition of the Consolidated Code of Operating
Rules and found no specific rule therein on the usage of bells. I would
surmise that bell usage was probably determined by each road individually.
In my experience, the conditions I have observed the bell being used are:
- Coming into stations, and leaving them. This warns people of movements.
- Slow movements at grade crossings. I rarely heard a bell being used
by a train traveling at high speed near a crossing. - Switching at locations other than a yard, where non-railroad personnel
could be present-to warn of movements. - Any condition that requires a warning sound not otherwise provided for.
This is what I have observed, and how I intend to operate with sound
equipped locomotives. Hopefully my speculation makes some sense
to all of you.[:D]
UCOR 1950
Rule 30: Ringing Bell - Except where the momentary stop and start, forwards or backwards, are a continuous switching movement, the engine bell must be rung when the engine is about to move, and approaching and passing public grade crossings at grade, stations, through tunnels and snow sheds.
Dave H.
That’s a good question and I was thinking of it just tonight. Since I’m dcc and sound I was wondering what the rules were. Around here I don’t think I’ve ever heard the bell sounded at or near a grade crossing when the train is moving at a rapid pace. Plenty of horn blowing, but no bell.
On my layout I usually sound it briefly in the yard areas where there are slow switching movements going on. I ring it on my E6 when coming into or leaving the station (or rather where the station will be one day). I try to do this in a brief manner so I don’t go dingy myself listening to it too much… 
JaRRell
Thanks, Dave. I guess I missed that one. It’s in mine too-same place
though the wording differs a litle-nothing about “continuous switching
movement”-otherwise identical.
Great stuff guys, I was hoping there was a prototype situation for using the bell. Can you imagine working all day with that thing ringing all your shift.
In Canada, if memory serves, the bell is sounded when the loco is going to block a crossing, so when it is going slowly and going to stop. It sounds when approaching a station, and during switching when the loco is pushing a car, not leading it.
I do not sound my bell at crossings unless I have to stop with rolling stock across the intersection. Also, my passenger trains must back into an industrial track to the station, so lots of bell-ringing there. Also, when the engineer pulls ahead to leave the platform.
I suspect that the bell was incorporated to warn the bystanders of the danger of the moving train or about to be moving train. Whistle blowing had a detremental effect on the horses and other live stock. With the number of grade crossing incidents, the rairoads need some “Star Trek” transporter technology to “move” the about to be crushed idiots to another dimension, at least temorarily! Lights bells and whistles or horns don’t seem to be enough to keep some out of harms way.
Will
At a road crossing, through yards, and when backing up. Some railroads also have their engineers ring the bell any time they are beginning to move in either direction.
On many diesel engines, the bell starts automatically when the locomotive begins to move.
On lines shared by a commuter service, such as the Chicago area, I think the freights also ring their bell any time they are passing through a commuter station.
When I release the brakes and open the throttle… that whistle gets two toots and the bell is started.
Also when I see the station that I plan to stop at… I get a big blast whistle out and then throw the bell after the brakes are applied.
Generally…Line of Road (not in yard switching)
Starting from a stop.
Passing people and equipement adjacent to the track
Traveling through tunnels, and stations
Bells are always rung passing over public road crossings. Newer locomotives link the bell and horn, so that the bell rings when the horn is blown.
Contrary to previous posts, bells are not used continuously in switching operations. Usually it’s only used to signal the intial move of a switching crew.
Nick Brodar
Who says that an engineer doesn’t use the bell for switching operations? It’s not like the bell can’t sound when working in a yard. It’s the engineer’s preference- no one was wrong in what they said.
i think that my AC4400 doesn’t hav a bell. What does that mean, when did bells get stop getting fitted? dd
NORAC & other standard RR books of operating rules require use of engine bell: when engine is about to move; when running through tunnels; while approaching and passing public highway crossings at grade; when approaching locations where Roadway Workers may be at work on tracks, bridges, and other points; when passing a train on an adjacent track; in an emergency.
ahh, the old, let’s revive a 9-year old thread trick. [^o)]