Model Railroading > Is there a place on web on where auto bell is enabled

Per railroad? I've noticed on my bnsf es44ac it is enabled when I hit my F3 key. Also on my dash 8 UP it is enabled. Is this the norm now when zi hit the horn? Also what about flashing ditch lights on my BNSF it does not flash when I hit the horn or put on the bell. Is it supposed to?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/23 10:56 by Sterned.

BNSF and UP units don't normally flash.  NS and CSX do. 

Eng.Shadetree

shadetree Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BNSF and UP units don't normally flash.  NS and
> CSX do. 
>
> Eng.Shadetree

As does Amtrak.

SP units flashed. So if you see a UP unit flashing, it was a old SP unit. 


PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> shadetree Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > BNSF and UP units don't normally flash.  NS
> and
> > CSX do. 
> >
> > Eng.Shadetree
>
> As does Amtrak.

Good question, I don't know if there's a listing any place that has that type of info.  I know on the UTA Frontrunner, the ditchlights alternate on the cab car when the bell is chiming as the train enters the station or when it's approaching a crossing, but I don't know if those are connected or if the engineer has to trigger both individually.  When the MP36PH locomotive is leading, I've noticed the bell rings but the ditchlights do not alternate.  Because the entire Fronterunner route is a quite zone, I don't know if the horn triggers the alternating ditchlights for either the locomotive or cab car.  So even in UTA's case, different equipment potentially has different setups for the horn/bell/lights.  

If memory serves, the Amtrak California equipment I used to ride on the Capital Corridor for my commute had the ditchlights flash on both the locomotive and cab car when the horn sounded, but that was 20 years ago.  

In a video I took back in January, Amtrak's P42 #161 had the bell ringing at the crossing, but the ditchlights were steady.  Again, maybe that's not true for all Amtrak equipment.  Ditchlights might be configured to alternate only when the horn sounds in their case.  I am surprised there isn't any consistency, so good luck and hopefully you can find some kind of authorative list to help solve the mystery.

Nathan

atsf121 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good question, I don't know if there's a listing
> any place that has that type of info.  I know on
> the UTA Frontrunner, the ditchlights alternate on
> the cab car when the bell is chiming as the train
> enters the station or when it's approaching a
> crossing, but I don't know if those are connected
> or if the engineer has to trigger both
> individually.  When the MP36PH locomotive is
> leading, I've noticed the bell rings but the
> ditchlights do not alternate.  Because the entire
> Fronterunner route is a quite zone, I don't know
> if the horn triggers the alternating ditchlights
> for either the locomotive or cab car.  So even in
> UTA's case, different equipment potentially has
> different setups for the horn/bell/lights.  
>
> If memory serves, the Amtrak California equipment
> I used to ride on the Capital Corridor for my
> commute had the ditchlights flash on both the
> locomotive and cab car when the horn sounded, but
> that was 20 years ago.  
>
> In a video I took back in January, Amtrak's P42
> #161 had the bell ringing at the crossing, but the
> ditchlights were steady.  Again, maybe that's not
> true for all Amtrak equipment.  Ditchlights might
> be configured to alternate only when the horn
> sounds in their case.  I am surprised there isn't
> any consistency, so good luck and hopefully you
> can find some kind of authorative list to help
> solve the mystery.
>
> Nathan

I think the ditchlights flash for 30 seconds after the horn is blown, which is how Amtrak does it.
The only connection between the ditchlights and the bell is that both are activated when the horn is blown. The bell can be silenced but the ditchlights have to go through their entire 30 second run unless the ditchlights are turned off.

Personally I disable the auto bell. If i want the bell on when I blow the horn (like at a crossing) I will turn it on. If I do a short toot when I turn off my engine I do not want the bell to sound.
I do think it is enbabled on some trains when you blow your horn, but I think there is a switch in the cab to turn that off. Also the auto bell sounds different than the train bell from what I was told its a electronic not a real bell.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/23 18:59 by Sterned.

Only SOME SP units had alternating ditch lights.  The C44-9Ws, AC4400s, and SD40M-2s were equipped from the factory with the feature, along with a handful of older units retrofitted, as outlined in the final pocket locomotive data book issued by SP mechanical to employees.

Mojacket Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SP units flashed. So if you see a UP unit
> flashing, it was a old SP unit. 
>
>
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > shadetree Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > BNSF and UP units don't normally flash.  NS
> > and
> > > CSX do. 
> > >
> > > Eng.Shadetree
> >
> > As does Amtrak.