Why do US trains have bells?

Bells are most commonly used whenever a train is approaching a railroad crossing, grade crossing, or level crossing, as well as approaching a station, or moving at slow speeds. They're also used to alert crews and engineers of a departing train, which is used as a warning to move or board.



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Railroads govern the use of bells on locomotives and mandate when they should be rung, as at crossings, quiet zones, or meeting points. Locomotive bells' chief function is to warn pedestrians, crew, or others nearby with a bright ding that a train is moving or will be soon.

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European trains hardly ever use their horns and have no bells. I suspect it is due to different fencing and level crossing design practices. In most of Europe, railway lines are continually fenced and most level crossings have gates or barriers.

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The horn alerts people that a train is approaching a railroad crossing. It can also be used to warn animals or trespassers in our right-of-way along a section of track. Many people don't realize that federal and state regulations require us to sound the horn whenever we approach any crossing.

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The bell sounds emanate from a speaker above the cab window. Train operators can still resort to louder horns when people don't clear the trackway, or during emergency stops.

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If you hear, two small horns, it means the motorman is asking the guard to direct the railway signal to start the train. In case you hear three smaller horns, it suggests that the motorman has lost control over the train. This also acts as a signal to pull the vacuum break immediately. This signal is rarely heard.

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So, as you can see from the name, all this honking business is pretty strict and obliges trains to make four blasts approximately 20 seconds before they reach a crossing. But that's not all! Trains whistles and horns are an effective method of communication!

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The great distances between major cities in the USA favor flying. Planes travel at speeds more than 500 miles an hour while most trains travel at speeds never exceeding 80 miles an hour. At some point upwards of a 600 mile trip, traveling by train starts adding entire days to a person's travel plans.

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American railways were also built on a wider gauge (the distance between the rails), which allows for larger and heavier trains. As a result, American freight railways are much more efficient than their European counterparts, carrying almost three times as much cargo per mile of track.

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Tracks: None of the nation's rail lines are built for trains to run 200 mph. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor — the busiest intercity U.S. passenger route by a wide margin — is filled with sharp curves, bottlenecks, decaying tunnels, bridges and overhead power lines that slow down trains.

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A cowcatcher, also known as a pilot, is the device mounted at the front of a locomotive to deflect obstacles on the track that might otherwise damage or derail it or the train.

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On remote control locomotives, a strobe light is often used to indicate the locomotive is not occupied. Strobe lights are also used on normal locomotives as a means of making the train more visible. A door indicator light is located above this Amtrak conductor.

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The term road train is not commonly used in the United States; turnpike train has been used, generally in a pejorative sense. In the western United States LCVs are allowed on many Interstate highways. The only LCVs allowed nationwide are STAA doubles.

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One long whistle (three to 10 seconds) means the train is approaching a station.

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Train whistles are used to communicate with other railroad workers on a train or in the yard. Specific combinations of long and short whistles have specific meanings. They are used to pass instructions, as a safety signal, and to warn of impending movements of a train.

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Warns of an approaching train. When the red lights are flashing, a train is approaching. Stop and wait for the train to pass, then proceed when it is clearly safe to do so.

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In the US, the detection method is electrical, through the rails. The method is ever-evolving but began around the turn of the 20th century when a battery at the far end of the track sent current down the rails to the signal and was shunted when a train entered the circuit.

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Level crossing signals are the electronic warning devices for road vehicles at railroad level crossings.

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