Don't laugh at this question.

[tatans]

This will raise a few smiles, as a kid I remember lots of steam around the large C.P.R. division where I lived, I always heard engine bells ringing, now, a thousand years later I cannot remember hearing a diesel ring it's bell in the last 5 years, if then, do they even have bells?? AND pardon my ignorance, just exactly what was (is) the bell for on an engine? If someone is on the tracks why not just use the whistle (horn) The more I think about this , it becomes the biggest question in the universe. any help ??

[Jetrock]

It's kind of like the "back-up signal" on trucks--you can ring a bell continuously without drowning out the sound of everything else. I hear diesels ringing their bells when pulling into a passenger station or when switching. They use the bell in conjunction with the horns, but the horns are for specific signals, while the bells are a general "pay attention!" signal.

[Anonymous]

The bells are typically the "warning" signals, used when passing through populated areas along the tracks, going through a grade crossing, ect. The horn is the "get out of the way or get killed" warning [;)]. And yes, all of todays US diesels have bells.

[mcouvillion]

tatans,

I think the bells are a warning when there is potentially a lot of slow movement by one or more trains and blowing the horn constantly would not be practical. On the model railroad where we operate, the bells are supposed to be ringing whenever a train is moving within the yard limits. The horn is extra notice, but the bell should always be on.

Mark C.

[Anonymous]

In Strasburg Pa near Lancaster is a tourist steam operation that has been in good quality work over the years.

One of the first lessons as a child was:

1- dont touch the engine. It's hot.
2- When that bell starts ringing after the two short blasts of the whistle get back away from the train and stay back.

The engine can sit and make steam all day with people all around it during watering, coaling waiting for departure etc but when that Bell starts a ringing after the two whistle blasts everyone clears the tracks.

When you are at a station in the old steam days a oncoming locomotive would blast the whistle one long time to announce it's presence while approaching the station if you DONT hear the bell it does not intend to stop... if you hear the bell during it's approach then that is the train who will stop at your station.

[grayfox1119]

Yes, they certainly do have bells. The Conway Scenic Railroad in New Hampshire for instance, passes right through the middle of Attitash Mountain Ski Resort Village. The Diesels not only blow their horn at all crossings, they ring the bells as they approach the walking cross bridge and road crossings and all through the housing area. And of course, the bells ring whenever the engine is backing up.

[AntonioFP45]

Bells on diesel locomotives are used often. The locomotive's bell is activated as grade crossings are approached.

Had a neat experience last year. I was traveling on a road that paralled the CSX mainline. As I drove east, a CSX freight started passing me. I kept pace with it and noticed that the engineer kept turning the bell and and off as he appoached and passed grade crossings while blowing the K5 horn.

At one point there was a M.O.W crew on the tracks ahead. The engineer stopped blowing the horn, and just rang the bell as he passed the crews on the tracks.

It was strange but neat as the bell rang very fast!

BTW: Usually when Amtrak trains depart stations, the engineer does ring the bell just before the train moves out.

[MisterBeasley]

Don't laugh at this question? Well, here's a lesson for all of us. This is a short but very informative thread, full of "real railroading" info you can't necessarily find in a magazine. Thanks for asking this question. In the instructing I've done over the years, I've learned that every time someone asks a "stupid" question, there's a least one other person in the room that's glad the question got asked, but didn't have the nerve to ask it himself. I toot my horn AND ring my bell for you!

[brothaslide]

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Come to think of it, that is a great question!

[dano99a]

Here's what I have been told (and I am NO EXPERT this is just what I remember from the conversation) by an engineer.

Horn blasts:
2 long 1 short 1 long (standard) at grade crossings
2 short when starting from a stop
2 short when backing in a yard or siding

Bells:
- constant when starting from a stop until speed limit is met
then
- constant when going through populated areas at grade crossing
- constant when accelerating
- constant when coming to a stop (I have seen this with passenger but not with frieght)

go here:
http://www.crtraincrew.com/gallery/dan.html
the bottom row of thumbnails are videos all have the bell and the horn however it hard to hear the bell on at least two of them, you'll here the bell maybe once and then not again.

Enjoy!

[trolleyboy]

I know it is a backup warning device to the horn.Here in the frozen north Via and CN freights sound their bells as they a pproach and pass by station plateforms no horns just bells.Usually the horns are saved for grade crossings.Alot of towns and cities have noise ordinances as well so in some places the urban crossings are bell only after 11pm. I know at our museum we use the bells as stop start warnings with different numbers combinations signifiyng which move we are ,making.Bottom line being heard saves lives. Rob