why is it that some fan train specials have the bell ringing the entire time the engine is moving and other times there is no bell. the recent valley railroad video on rfd tv had the bell ringing the entire time while the engine was running even out in the country.

quote:

Originally posted by ironlake:
why is it that some fan train specials have the bell ringing the entire time the engine is moving and other times there is no bell. the recent valley railroad video on rfd tv had the bell ringing the entire time while the engine was running even out in the country.

Funny. I work on the Valley Railroad, on the train crew. Never experienced
that. The bell is rung, starting at the whiste post, which is a quarter mile
before a crossing, until after going over the crossing. It's also rung passing
stations, equipment on adjacent tracks, when pedestrians are nearby, and
other situations as a warning.

Ringing the bell out in the country for no reason? No way!

Lee

That same question was asked months ago, by ironlake, and we all gave him the answer: the bell is so far up front on a big steam locomotive, that most times the Engineer simply can not hear the bell ringing from way back in the cab!

not when the bell is rang the old fashioned way by hand. i do not think the fireman would forget he is ringing the bell.

Lee is correct in the case of the VRR. The video was shot around all the grade-crossings because it's easier for the video crew to set up there. Therefore the bell is ringing in all the shots!

Jon

Speaking from first-hand experience, I can't hear the bell in the 765 unless there are buildings near the track to reflect the sound back into the cab. What typically happens is that I'll turn on the bell for a grade crossing, blow the whistle for the crossing, get over it and then forget the bell is still on because I can't hear it. The bell valve in the 765 is simply a round valve like you might have on an outdoor spigot. Even though we have a white mark on the circumference of the valve handle to indicate the placement of the valve, it is easy to miss that the valve is ON instead of OFF.

Over the winter we may change the bell valve to a handle-type valve that moves through a 90-degree arc. That would provide a better visual indication of the bell's status.

I love steam engines and DVD of steam engines but the constant ring of the bell in every second of the footage drives me nuts


In my opinion the bell distracts from a great scene of sound and sight. Now I understand you have to ring the bell starting up and at crossing but when it's ringing in the middle of no where, aarrhhh.

Here are two of my many Valley videos, illustrating that
the bell is rung only where required by operating rules,
not unnecessarily.

The first is of the National Model Railroad Association charter
in July, where the conventioneers rode the Dinner Train.
Note that the Dinner Train runs slowly, as food and drinks
are being cooked and served aboard the moving train.
Note that at private crossings, no warnings are given.

The second video is of Opening Weekend, and again illustrate
that the bell ringing stops as soon as operating rules allow.

Please view them in HQ (High Quality)
Lee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYTVTE8-Hjo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXlSqbTqSL8

This was an older Mark 1 video and the ringing is on the old mikado that is freshly restored. If the video is in the cronological order of things this engine was put back into service after the valley railroad sold their brand new chinese mike to another tourist railroad.