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[KBCpresident]

My Dad and I were railfanning in BNSF's vancouver yard. It's one of the best places in the metropolis to see long haul action. Well anyways, along comes a unit grain with 3 GEs on the head. A BNSF with Orange paint, I couldn't see the bell, a Warbonnet C44-9W with the traditional bell, and another, what, ES44, or something. Anyway, while the train was parked I noticed a strange object, near the fuel tank where the bell should be. Is this what all bells look like these days? Is it a bell at all,

Thanks

[enr2099]

Electronic bell most likely. Many railroads are going for the Electronic bells instead of the mechanical ones as they don't need as much maintenance. Fewer moving parts.

[KBCpresident]

That is so sad. Money is the root of all evil...and anoying railroad policies. Have all railroads swithced over to te new electonic bells?

[ndbprr]

Money is the root of all evil...and anoying railroad policies.

Railroads exist to make money as does every private enterprise institution.  Everything has a cost and the ultimate for all of us is the cheapest solution to a problem that works.  If it wasn't there would still be steam engines around.  Others of us call that progress rather than annoying.

[zugmann]

A bell is a very important part of a locomotive.  Electronic bells actually work and can be heard.  I've had too many mechanical bells that are gummed up and are useless. 

 Sorry, but say goodbye to the old mechanical dinger. 

[cacole]

Many of the mechanical bells on crossing signals are being replaced with electronic ones, too.  And it's not just the bells that are changing, but the signals themselves are now LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs.

[enr2099]

That is so sad. Money is the root of all evil...and anoying railroad policies. Have all railroads swithced over to te new electonic bells?

 Most are. Even the short lines. The Southern Railway of BC and the Southern Railway of Vancouver Island motive power for the most part have the electronic bells. 

[wabash1]

A bell is a very important part of a locomotive.  Electronic bells actually work and can be heard. 

just how important is the bell ,

[zugmann]

Required to ring at crossings. 

Required to ring when passing other trains/equipment.

It also lets people know that train is about to move. (all very important to public and employee alike)

 

 

[wabash1]

Required to ring at crossings. 

Required to ring when passing other trains/equipment.

It also lets people know that train is about to move. (all very important to public and employee alike)

 

 

.

 

most people dont relize the bell is ringing at crossings, and the ringing when passing other trains or equipment is for railroad employees, also at train stations, and the ringing before you move the train is my favorite, because 95% of the public dont know that and 45% of the railroaders dont relize that either.  but you are right with all 3 and there is others but why bother over 60 % of the engine bells on the NS dont work anyways

[zugmann]

most people dont relize the bell is ringing at crossings, and the ringing when passing other trains or equipment is for railroad employees, also at train stations, and the ringing before you move the train is my favorite, because 95% of the public dont know that and 45% of the railroaders dont relize that either.  but you are right with all 3 and there is others but why bother over 60 % of the engine bells on the NS dont work anyways

But I don't want to hit a car with a bell that is NOT ringing.  And yes, ringing the bell passing equipment is for the benefit of RR employees (technically you are also supposed to be sounding the horn while passing adjacent trains)  but sicne I am an employee, I like that benefit. 

Yeah, 60% of the bells on NS don't work becuase they are old, air-powered pieces of junk.   Now if we can just get the software on the 70M-2s re-written so the bell doesn't ring for 30 seconds after tooting the horn...

[wabash1]

most people dont relize the bell is ringing at crossings, and the ringing when passing other trains or equipment is for railroad employees, also at train stations, and the ringing before you move the train is my favorite, because 95% of the public dont know that and 45% of the railroaders dont relize that either.  but you are right with all 3 and there is others but why bother over 60 % of the engine bells on the NS dont work anyways

But I don't want to hit a car with a bell that is NOT ringing.  And yes, ringing the bell passing equipment is for the benefit of RR employees (technically you are also supposed to be sounding the horn while passing adjacent trains)  but sicne I am an employee, I like that benefit. 

Yeah, 60% of the bells on NS don't work becuase they are old, air-powered pieces of junk.   Now if we can just get the software on the 70M-2s re-written so the bell doesn't ring for 30 seconds after tooting the horn...

the 2600-2700 yes shoot the man who said we needed 30 seconds of bell past the last long blown, i think he should be brought up on charges of unessesary bell wringing. after 12 hrs you hear this in my sleep

[al-in-chgo]

Many of the mechanical bells on crossing signals are being replaced with electronic ones, too.  And it's not just the bells that are changing, but the signals themselves are now LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs.

 

Sad but true.  In Rochelle, at the closest gated crossings to the diamonds (just east of the RR park), the BNSF clanger is real but the UP crossing uses digital technology.  Look for the soup-can sized module clear on the top of the filial of the signal.  BTW it isn't that hard to tell the difference.   - a.s.

 

[Trainmaster.Curt]

Nothin beats the sound of Old No.3's bell and whistle

http://www.pdcrailway.com/images/video/pdc-august-1999-leaving-inkster.wmv

[KBCpresident]

Ok...Why do they still suspend it from the end of the fuel tank You would think they wouldn't need to. Also what did the nose mounted bells on the CNW sound like? I was too late to ever hear one.