Why do locomotives have bells

Q: What are the rules concerning when a train should ring its bell at a crossing or elsewhere? Sometimes I hear it, but not always. You must login to submit a comment. Related Articles. Ask Trains. Great Passenger Trains. Join Today! Both are vital safety features, however, the bell's use predates the locomotive to the days of horse-drawn street cars and carriages. Quite simply, it alerts those nearby to the fact that the vehicle in which it is affixed is moving.

As the horn is very loud and used for widespread alert, the bell, being quieter is more practical for a constant reminder when the locomotive is nearby. Originally, locomotives in America were very primitive. As they were steam powered, the horn was generally a brass whistle activated by steam releasing from the boiler and the bell was mounted on the top of the locomotive and connected to a long rope that allowed locomotive engineer or fireman to pull on it to ring it manually.

Since the very beginnings of the industry, bells have been closely associated with railroading. The horse-drawn railways of the 's hung small bells on horses' bridles to indicate their presence, and bells were used -- and continue to be used -- on virtually all steam and diesel locomotives.

In his book "Railroad Collectibles", Baker writes, "About , bells became standard equipment on engines, but their main function was to warn both humans and animals to watch out for the coming train.

In the very early days, a man on horseback rode ahead of the locomotive waving a flag and shouting 'The train is coming. When President Lincoln's body was carried by train from Chicago to Springfield in , the engine's muffled bell tolled the entire distance. When a locomotive was scrapped, the bell, along with maybe the whistle and builder's plates, were often the only items salvaged. Some salvaged bells had a second working life in churches, camps, farms and factories, while others were simply used for presentation or ornamental purposes.

Hence a means of warning others of the approach of a train from a distance is necessary. It is composed of several sounds multiple horns. The lowest frequency —Hz dB A is intended to reach far about km. The high frekvency less spreading is intended to give orientation and reach about 2—3 km average. The effective distance depends on air quality and sound environment. Diesel locomotives are noisy because they have a 12 or 16 cylinder turbocharged diesel IC engine displacing 24—32 Liters as prime mover for the traction alternator.