When to use a bell on a train?

[Anonymous]

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]

[Tracklayer]

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

[grandeman]

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.

[jrbernier]

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tracklayer

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

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

[GN-Rick]

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:
1. Coming into stations, and leaving them. This warns people of movements.
2. Slow movements at grade crossings. I rarely heard a bell being used
by a train traveling at high speed near a crossing.
3. Switching at locations other than a yard, where non-railroad personnel
could be present-to warn of movements.
4. 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]

[dehusman]

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.

[jacon12]

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

[GN-Rick]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[selector]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

[cacole]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[nbrodar]

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

[Gluefinger]

QUOTE:

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.

[Anonymous]

i think that my AC4400 doesn't hav a bell. What does that mean, when did bells get stop getting fitted? dd

[bobr349]

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.

[richhotrain]

ahh, the old, let's revive a 9-year old thread trick.   

[Geared Steam]

richhotrain

ahh, the old, let's revive a 9-year old thread trick.   

 

.

[Texas Zepher]

richhotrain

ahh, the old, let's revive a 9-year old thread trick. 

So????  Is it not still relevant when to ring a bell?

[tstage]

richhotrain

ahh, the old, let's revive a 9-year old thread trick.   

Exactly what I was thinking, Chief!

[richhotrain]

Texas Zepher

 

 

richhotrain

ahh, the old, let's revive a 9-year old thread trick. 

 

 

So????  Is it not still relevant when to ring a bell?

 

 

TZ, I am sure that you understand the point of my comment.

In the greater scheme of things, who cares if someone revives a thread that has been dormant for 9 years.  You don't.  I don't.

But, you have to wonder how this came about.  Think about it for a moment.  Is someone doing a search for "when to use a bell on a train" and then stumbles onto a 9 year old thread?  Was the fellow, who revived the old thread, wanting to give us this NORAC information and chose to reply to a nearly decade old thread rather than simply start a new one?

I just find it curious, that's all.  

Rich

[zstripe]

To coin a old line..''.give the guy some slack, he's new to this''.

Take Care!

Frank

[richhotrain]

zstripe

To coin a old line..''.give the guy some slack, he's new to this''.

Take Care!

Frank

 

ahhh, Frankie.   LOL

I was expecting a link from you.

Rich

[narrow gauge nuclear]

I ring the bell without regard to any rules or lack there of.  If the engine is standing still and about to move, it rings and continues to ring once moving in a town or in some rapid switching operations in or around a yard. When entering a town or junction at reduced, speeds, especially crawls, it rings. Only at road speeds or in open country is the bell never sounded.

Any train or engine movement in town has the bell on.  The towns are all tiny little outposts and switching limited to tiny pockets of congestion with people walking in and around the tracks.  The bell saves a lot of noisey and annoying whistling, though the whistle rules are obeyed.

The rules about the bell are your rules and often the rules of the engineer/fireman practiced through the team experience.  If there are bell rules regarding when you must ring, on any road, there are absolutely no rules to tell you when it should never ring or be sounded.  Common sense should dictate. 

[gmcrail]

From the Pennsylvania RR Rule Book, Rev. 10/27/57:  "30. The engine bell or warning signal must be sounded when an engine is about to move, when running through tunnels, while approaching and passing public crossings at grade and when passing a train standing on an adjacent track."

From the Wabash RR Rule Book Rev 1941:  "30.  The engine bell must be rung  when an engine is about to move and while approaching and passing public crossings at grade." 

From both books above: "32. The unnecessary use of either the whistle or the bell is prohibited."

I could find no place in either book which mentions the use of the engine bell. Apparently, the definition of "unnecessary" is up to the individual engine crew.

 

[tomikawaTT]

If you model the Mississippi Central from 1936 to the end of steam your locomotive will have two bells.  The one overhanging the smokebox door will sound continuously whenever the locomotive is in motion, even if there's nothing but plowed fields for miles around.

That was part of a ruling handed down after a train/school bus encounter at a grade crossing.  The same ruling led to legislation that outlawed wooden-bodied school busses in Mississippi.

P.S.  If you DO model the above, remind me not to visit.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - where locomotives didn't have bells)

[Tracklayer]

Wow. I thought this was a new thread until I saw that it was dated late September of 2005. And what's more I had replied to it - twice... Thanks for the memory.

Tracklayer