As a non american modelling US railroads, I have a question, when do I use the bell on my sound equipped locos?
I usually hear bells at Railroad crossing’s. They also might use them else where, but I’m not sure.
Bells are used at crossings, when the train starts moving (for a little while), and at stations. Those are the most common places, but it can vary.
[#welcome] Enjoy the hobby!!!
You can hear them in yards during switching moves too. Basically, anytime you want to alert people that your train is moving.
I believe that at crossings with barriers in city limits bells are sometimes prohbited by the local authorities…
Can anyone enlighten us on when they are commonly not used as well please?
TIA
[8D]
Bells prohibited? Bells are required at all crossings, especially at “quiet zones” (wich I believe your talking about)
Not used? I dont think there is a place where they are “not” used.
Maybe just when the bell is off? [;)]
Bells? The last time I heard a bell on a locomotive was a steam engine in the local rail yard when the train entered the station about a thousand years ago, I have never heard a locomotive use a bell at a crossing, who’s going to hear it when there is no one around for 20 miles.? if you are in a car or truck waiting at a remote crossing do you think you will hear a bell approaching you, I think not.
BELLS were warning devices for slow moving engines as an alarm for workers in rearby proximity - such as Yards.
They signified ‘Train In MOTION’.
HORNS were mandated at grade crossings. Exception might be an industrial siding using a street.
TYPICAL is an engine working an industrial siding: Fist turn on headlights; then the bell to signify moving; and sound the horn when approaching a grade crossing.
Have you even been railfanning in the last “thousan” years? EVERY crossing the locomotive is REQUIRED to sound the bell. ALL new GEs and EMDs sound the bell whenever the horn button or lever is pressed. ELECTRONIC bells (Which I personally hate) are alot louder and more clear than the Mechanicals, but they still WARN people, in cars or not, that there is a train nearby, and to stay away. The HORN is used and a secondary caution to people by the tracks or at a station. Bells are still required and have a purpose, even if we dont think they do.
Are you SURE? I frequently watch the NS local on its daily turn, and don’t recall EVER hearing the bell. The horn, sure, as required, but not the bell. Sometimes they stop to do some switching, and still I haven’t heard the bell. Keep in mind they run everything from SD40-2’s to the newest GE or EMD power, sometimes from BNSF, UP, NS, Conrail (well, former Conrail), KCS, or whatever they had in the yard that day.
Now, when they get to the end of their run, and are switching on a yard, and there are non RR employees around, they might use the bell, but since it’s private property, I don’t know.
Brad
Pure and simple , bells are warning devices. Warning for what? For just about anything anytime you want people - and cows and horses too for that matter - to be aware that they need to be aware that a ferroequine is in the vicinity.
Thanks for explaining the use of the bell to me.
NORAC Rule 20. Engine Bell
If a train is equipped with an engine bell, it must be sounded:
1.) When the engine is about to move.
2.) When running through tunnels.
3.) While approaching and crossing public crossings at grade.
4.) When approaching locations where Roadway Workers may be at work.
5.) When passing a train standing on an adjacent track.
6.) In an emergency.
In cases where a momentary stop and start, forward and backward movement is part of a switching operation that does not involve movement over a public crossing at grade the engine bell need not be sounded.
I’ll have to check the guidelines for quite zones, but I believe active quite zone prohibit the use of both the bell and the horn.
Nick
No.
You MUST sound the bell at all ties when in a quiet zone.
Yes I agree. Our city has a 7am-7pm quite times and the trains ALWAYS have there bells on during that time.
Nick,
I was hoping you would chime in on this topic. Sorry, couldn’t help myself with that one. Seriously, I look forward to your comprehensive and informative responses to these kind of inquiries. I always learn a lot.
Tom
Thanks, Tom.
This time I did make an error. Coborn and WCfan are correct. The bell IS sounded within a quite zone.
We don’t have any in my territory, so I was a tad rusty on the rulling.
Nick
The Microsoft Trains Simulator diesels, the N. American models, all actuate the bell simultaneously with the horn…no choice for the engineer. In fact, the bell must be manually shut of in the sim…not sure about the real thing. So, with horn warning mandatory at crossings, no matter how you designate them, the bell will also sound.
Depending on the railroad.
Ring bell when passing through a passenger station track, or whenever passengers are present along side the train.
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