The ringing bell of crossing gates: fun or irritating.

I feel the same way, so part of my plan of wiring up a bell ringer and operating gateman is to put a switch into the circuit so I can shut it off.

Yes

I did what Michael did.  I added a switch to the audio circuit to kill the bell.  With a small layout the bell rings almost constantly.  My wife and kids thanked me profusely when I installed it.

 

Tom

Depends on how I feel. Most of the time the bells are turned off.

Yes!!

I am a fan of the switch idea to keep the novelty from turning into torture. Switches and push buttons on activated accessories are a good idea in general. Gives the...um... 'untrained' visitor an easy and fun way to interact with the layout while keeping wear and tear to a minimum.

I agree with you. Nice to have the ringing bell feature, but sometimes limiting the on time is also desirable, or even being able to turn it off might be nice at times.

Go with the switch. If the layout is small then you will think the sound is like Chinese water torture!! On large layouts and slower running trains it is fantastic.

 

Another solution I used on a prior layout was adding a passing siding running parallel to the main line and perpendicular to the grade crossing that was wired to trigger the sounds. Run on the passing siding and it rang, run on the main, no sound.

Do you find the ringing bell sounds fun or irritating?

 

I have both MTH crossing bells on a switch. I use it only for visitors and the kids.

Here -https://steves3roscale.shutterfly.com/pictures/6863

 

An on off switch and a volume control is a good solution for the ringing bell .

I put mine on a timer so it only rings for a few seconds.

 

Dale H

I think depends on the size of the layout.Real rr crossing bells will ring as first.Then shut off the lights will still be flashing thou.

FUN for a short time.

Timer?

 

Gates and bells only operate when trains are 18" from either side of the crossing.

When I run 7 trains on 2 tracks with DCS, they are just about always on.

So the off switch is used. Also have an off switch for the gates too. Leave them down most times.

Indeed it is!

 

Jeff Davis

  Having spent a lot of time within earshot of a switcher, mostly it goes in one ear out the other.

 The old clinkers drove me nuts, but modern ones I like.

The bell is my favorite part of sound on a modern loco.

Signals are the only reason I have the volume up.

The chuff gets to me first to be honest.

 

More cowbell!.

Andrew,

 

     Sometimes at our open houses I am ready to blow up the MTH Firehouse because of the $.((;$)?$$ bell.

 

JohnB

I had 2 on the layout & finally had  to put a switch on them. The bell drove me crazy.

I'm with you Andrew. A little goes a loooong way on the crossing gate.
Ray.

I have a couple in storage so I can't check them.  Do they have volume controls?  If not, can one be installed?  Thanks.

great timing for this post   going to install a switch   the ringing drives me crazy after a while.

When FasTrack first hit the scene, we (LHS) changed our 4X8' store layout from a classic tubular track double oval to a FasTrack oval/figure 8.  Since we wanted to entertain as well as advertise, we included BOTH the FasTrack crossing flashers and the crossing gates/flashers accessories....with bell sounds.

 

The customers....they're rather important!....enjoyed the animation and the bell sounds. 

 

OTOH, we employees?........!!!  Thank heavens for the sound on/off switch between the rails!!!!  They're permanently OFF!!

 

I believe Guantanamo might have had more success with that layout than their controversial water-thing!!

 

But, TEHO, I say.

 

KD

You got that right!

I wonder if I can file a lawsuit against NS for torturing its employees with locomotive bells that couldn't be manually turned off?

I like them and use a volume control.

I agree with the volume control. Sometimes it depends on the brand. The most irritating I've listed in order from the worst to what I would call the better (not the best).

1)Postwar Marx (the absolute worst)

2)Prewar Lionel

3)Prewar Flyer

4)Postwar Lionel

5)Modern MTH

Feel free to add to. Please note that I did not find a better

When my layout was in full gear, the ringing would drive me nuts. I had all Z-stuff, it looked great and operated flawlessly. I finally put the signals all through a main power toggle. Turned it on for visitors and turned it off while me, myself, and I were running trains.

I think these are geared for the younger operators. I too get annoyed after a while with it.

We have Thomas and James at the club layout at the mall. Every time a child runs them with their dedicated remote, they turn on the bell and leave it on - the whole time. I have told several of the club members that the next time I have to fix one of the locos, the bell button will be disabled. No one has disagreed so far.

With  Lionel Fastrack and the sensor track you can program or disable the bell as you see fit

Easy solution, otherwise go with the switch, No Probs Just enjoy