Bells and Whistles

[rjemery]

I happen to live near the New Jersey Coast Line, a strictly commuter line running south (or west in PRR parlance) to Long Branch and Bay Head.  In my particular locale, the tracks are elevated and there is no grade crossing.

When trains are approaching a station with the intention of stopping, both the horn and bell are sounded.  The bell is also sounded on departure.

However, when the train is simply passing through, only the horn is sounded.  In either case, when the horn is sounded, it is not the two long-one short-one long cadence one might expect, but any or no combination of sound.

With respect to sounding the horn and/or bell, what rules or standards apply to NJ Transit Rail Operations on any of the state's rail lines?

Does Amtrak have different rules on the Northeast Corridor?

[Wizlish]

rjemery

However, when the train is simply passing through, only the horn is sounded. In either case, when the horn is sounded, it is not the two long-one short-one long cadence one might expect, but any or no combination of sound.

The long-long-short-long signal is only for crossings at grade. 

Normal practice I have observed for trains on the NEC that are running through adjacent to platforms is to blow once just before reaching the end of the platform.  If people are too close to the edge, or I guess visibly not paying attention, the engineman (or motorman or whatever he's called) might blow some more to be sure the train is properly noticed.  In some cases (also on the NYC subway) a common signal is two short blasts sounded together at intervals as the train passes through.  On occasion I have heard the emergency signal (long-short repeated at intervals) used for trains passing through when the platforms are relatively full or people are close to the edge.

At high speed the bell signal isn't very audible and its sound would be distorted,  so not that useful as a warning for trains running through.  It may be that rules dictate the bell only be used for trains that are stopping, where passengers might be approaching to board before the train comes to a full stop.

Looking forward to hearing what the actual NJT and Amtrak rules are.

[Deggesty]

Is a series of short blasts no longer the standard railroad signal for warning people (or cows) to back away from the track?

[Firelock76]

What I see here at the local Amtrak staion is this:

On approaching the station the locomotive will sound its horn (I REFUSE to call it a whistle!), a short blast, then will ring the bell during the movement through the station proper until the stop.  On starting, two horn blasts, then bell until the locomotive exits the station.  As far as I know these are standard railroad rules i.e. a moving locomotive rings the bell during station and yard movements.

[rcdrye]

There's no general rule in the NORAC rules that applies.  New Jersey requires a long  signal when approaching a platform during daylight hours.  A similar rule is in effect in Massachusetts, except that the horn must be sounded at night if anyone is seen to be on the platform.

 

[Dutchrailnut]

On most railroads the requirement to give to short blast before moving does NOT include starting a train in a passenger station. rule reads : 0 0 (for short blast) When standing, prior to commencing forward movement, except at passenger station stops.

[Firelock76]

There's an interesting six minute video of the North Jersey Coast Line on You Tube.

Search "You Tube Penn Rail Videos North Jersey Coast Line" and you'll find it quickly.  You'll see a Coast Line train doing it's station approach, plus a near-miss with a dummy on a bicycle shooting in front of the train, his headset on and oblivious to the world.

My "pucker factor" went up about 100% expecting something nasty to happen, but then I realized the young man who does "Penn Rail Videos" has too much class to show anything horrible.

[rfpjohn]

CSX Baltimore Division special instructions require two long blasts of the horn approaching passenger stations during the hours specified in said special instructions. This does NOT include Ashland, VA as that is in a quiet zone. The rule book requires one short blast for the rest of the system (Greendale is Florence Div.), unless modified by by special instruction. This horn signal is to be sounded 1000' prior to the station. The bell is also to be rung by the station. And yes, a series of short sounds is still a warning to trespassers and pretty girls!