I'm running my little sound equipted 0-6-0 around pushing all the buttons which leads to a stupid question, but I've never been an engineer. I know the use of the whistle like blowing for grade crossings. But what purpose is the bell rung, and I suppose it would be the same for diesels?|-| John
Howdy, The bell was usually rung with people were around a moving train, for example, at a passenger station. Railroads may have differed a bit, but most mostly rang the bell warning people of a moving train. Have fun, mike
John, The use of the bell goes like this from what I remember. It was rung before the locomotive moved, approaching crossings, and approaching and leaving stations. The bell rang from the first whistle at the whistle post all the way through the grade crossing, er....highway or street crossing. I never was a steam engineer but I was a locomotive engineer for many years. Some things on the railroad change all the time, others just carry on and on and on. I hope this was helpful to you.
The following statement regarding the Rule Book was made in a mind fog (my note 2/13/2010). While I have not found a copy of the St. Louis - San Francisco Railway Company Rules of the Transportation Department that spell out the standards for the usage of the locomotive bell, Will covered most of the bases for the generally accepted practices. (Correction - See Karl's post [above or below depending on your viewing preference] 2/13/2010). These are the rules that I was taught while operating with the Kansas City Live Steamers. General Rules for Bell Usage 1) Sound bell whenever the locomotive is operating in close proximity to the public, especially when arriving or departing station. 2) Sound bell prior to beginning movement of the locomotive (prior to any whistle signals) and silence bell just after the whistle signals except due to Rule 1. 3) Sound bell just before sounding whistle for grade or bridge crossings and silence bell after the locomotive is clear of said crossing except if in violation of Rule 1. 4) Sound bell as needed when operating in yard limits to alert employees moving toward the track the locomotive is traversing. Silence bell upon their acknowedgement except in violation of Rule 1. There several former Frisco steam locomotive engineers in the club and they were pretty direct about ensuring I followed "the rules we learned" (as one said to me).
Howdy, That's just the reason we have engineer training at our club. "Driving" the train is a lot harder than just twisting the throttle. If you think the bells are tricky, you should see the whistles/horns... Here is a link to what we use for training bells and whistles on our club layout: http://www.frisco.org/vb/showpost.php?p=19573&postcount=1 Have fun, mike
Absolutely! I read those pages and the words just did not register in my brain - Oh well, I am over 55!
Interesting! Karl's post seems to be from the 1957 Rules version (or later?). I went back and checked the book for 1927 and for 1909. Rule 30 is stated somewhat differently in both of them. 1927 30. The engine bell must be rung when an engine is about to move, and while approaching and passing public crossings at grade. 32. The unnecessary use of either the whistle or the bell is prohibited. 1909 30. The engine-bell must be rung when an engine is about to move. 31. The engine-bell must be rung on approaching every public road crossing at grade, and until it is passed; and the whistle must be sounded at all whistling-posts. 32. The unnecessary use of either the whistle or the bell is prohibited. They will be used only as prescribed by rule or law, or to prevent accident. I can understand passing a station, but I wonder what they accomplished by ringing the bell through a tunnel, except to give the crew (and passengers?) a headache?
I suppose the thought process would be that someone on the outside of the other end of the tunnel would be aware a train was approaching (as if they wouldn't be able to hear the "funneled" sound of the engine).
I wander off topic, but The Mexico, MO Train Works club jumped to DCC in the late 90s when I was still a member, and while we did not have sound, you could get yourself in a peck of trouble if you did not dim your locomotive headlight upon entering a yard or upon a meet. John's question makes a great point: between sound equipped locomotives and a copy of the Rules of the Transportation Dept., you can make your model railroad operation quite realistic. Best Regards,
