Bells

[Engine33Truck]

A question I often ask, do bells have a practical use?  I never thought so until I joined Keyser and heard a story of either KFD's or Tri-Town's first out engine's Q siren, back up siren and airhorns all breaking and the officer being forced to use the bell alone.

[magicitybill]

They did in the past!  There were no horns or motors, only street car bells.  So locomotive bells could be heard from quite a distance.   Untill cars had AC and loud radios I think a lot of people could still hear them.  In the 80s I rang the bell on our Hann  on every run.  I punished those who failed to yield with the Q though.