Bell upon departing station

[startingaparty]

Hi,

On my Northern train home this evening I was sat at the very back of the train. Upon departing each station stop a bell rang twice. I have never heard this on any train I've been on before. Is this a new thing?

I wasn't sure if it was the conductor who kept coming in and out of the drivers cabin at the rear of the train to open the doors then returned to the cabin.

 

[MalaiseForever]

The double bell is done by the conductor to tell the driver it is ready to depart. The driver then returns the double bell to acknowledge.

 

[trainmania100]

Full list of buzzer codes

1 = Stop
1-2 = Close Doors
2 = Ready to depart (Right away)
2-2 = Do not open doors
3 = Set back
3-1 = Lock central door locking
3-2 = Guard giving permission for driver to unlock doors
3-2-1 = Testing doors
3-3 = Guard to contact driver (or vice-versa)
3-3-1 = Release central door locking
4 = Slow down
4-4 = Cab to cab contact for HST's
6 = Draw forward
9 = Police required

 

[Mag_seven]

Is this a new thing?

Quite the opposite actually!

 

[daveshah]

Chances are you haven't noticed it because on many trains it's more of a beep, sometimes fairly quiet, than a bell.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Chances are you haven't noticed it because on many trains it's more of a beep, sometimes fairly quiet, than a bell.

In BR days (not so much the case with new stock) convention was a bell on an EMU and a buzzer on a DMU. I have no idea why.

 

[edwin_m]

I would guess because a DMU is noisier.

 

[Carlisle]

In BR days (not so much the case with new stock) convention was a bell on an EMU and a buzzer on a DMU. I have no idea why.

DEMUs had bells

 

[Surreytraveller]

DEMUs had bells

DEMUs were EMUs with diesel generators on board

 

[gimmea50anyday]

You can hear them on voyager type units (as a beep) and on 170, 185s (a ping), MK3, mk4 (a warbling high pitched buzz), 165, 158, 156, 142 (a deep buzz) where guard is despatching from within the train as opposed to from the cab/DVT/TGS. You can also hear them (as a bell) on 442 and 455. They were common on MK1 slam door stock but as many SE based rolling stock is now DOO they don't tend to be heard on Electrostars.
Despite the different sounds heard across the fleet they are known colloquially as bell buzzer codes.

 

[Far north 37]

DEMUs were EMUs with diesel generators on board

Total opposite dmus with a diesel engine powering an electric generator and traction motors.

 

[Intermodal]

Is this a new thing?

It was introduced in the last 60 years or so!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Total opposite dmus with a diesel engine powering an electric generator and traction motors.

Which is basically an EMU with the shoes removed and a diesel generator fitted, as he said!

You know, like a Class 230

 

[Ken H]

Full list of buzzer codes

1 = Stop
1-2 = Close Doors
2 = Ready to depart (Right away)
2-2 = Do not open doors
3 = Set back
3-1 = Lock central door locking
3-2 = Guard giving permission for driver to unlock doors
3-2-1 = Testing doors
3-3 = Guard to contact driver (or vice-versa)
3-3-1 = Release central door locking
4 = Slow down
4-4 = Cab to cab contact for HST's
6 = Draw forward
9 = Police required

Is there still a black sticker in cabs with these codes? Used to be in modernisation plan DMU's.

 

[daveshah]

I've seen blue stickers with the list of codes on the inside of the guard panel cover before.

 

[big all]

Which is basically an EMU with the shoes removed and a diesel generator fitted, as he said!

You know, like a Class 230

or a quiet end and a thumpy thumpy end

 

[adamello]

it still puzzles me that the one that could be most urgent, requires the longest bell count

 

[big all]

it still puzzles me that the one that could be most urgent, requires the longest bell count

makes complete sense short codes fade into the back ground its still going gets your attention

 

[Whattraintoday]

it still puzzles me that the one that could be most urgent, requires the longest bell count

Could be worse, could be x27 (9-9-9)

 

[big all]

Could be worse, could be x27 (9-9-9)

that would work even better
first 9 gets your attention by its length so second group you take note and count consciously

 

[edwin_m]

Then again "stop" is only one...

However with buzzers the "one" would probably be extended by holding down the button until the guard felt the brakes going on.

 

[R G NOW.]

The double bell is done by the conductor to tell the driver it is ready to depart. The driver then returns the double bell to acknowledge.

In some stations I always thought, drivers had to wait for a RA indicator at the signal also.

 

[Llama]

Yes, with RA dispatch no bell/buzzer is used though.

 

[Bletchleyite]

it still puzzles me that the one that could be most urgent, requires the longest bell count

I think the *most* urgent one is the shortest - stop (which on a DMU with a buzzer means leaning on the button until the brakes kick in). Once you've done that, you have a bit of time to work out what next.

 

[R G NOW.]

Yes, with RA dispatch no bell/buzzer is used though.

It is a funny thing. Noticed at Cardiff, when a train terminates in platform 4, the conductor and passengers leave train and the dispatcher presses the train ready button, then the signal shows a draw ahead signal with an indicator showing UC, then they insert key into right away switch and turn it. RA lights up at the starting signal next to the UC indicator, the driver then moves off towards canton depot.

 

[Surreytraveller]

In some stations I always thought, drivers had to wait for a RA indicator at the signal also.

Its either / or. If there's a guard, the RA would be used to repeat the guard's signal to the driver if there wasn't a bell or buzzer, or if they weren't working. The guard would wave a green flag, and the platform staff would then indicate Right Away by using the RA indicator

 

[Mollman]

Then again "stop" is only one...

However with buzzers the "one" would probably be extended by holding down the button until the guard felt the brakes going on.

That's my experience of it.

 

[fairysdad]

On a 707 you can't miss the beeps!

 

[Carlisle]

the conductor and passengers leave train and the dispatcher presses the train ready button, then the signal shows a draw ahead signal with an indicator showing UC, then they insert key into right away switch and turn it. RA lights up at the starting signal next to the UC indicator, the driver then moves off towards canton depot.

That’s the standard way of dispatching empty stock workings at many or probably most locations these days that do so on a regular basis .

 

[daveshah]

On a 707 you can't miss the beeps!

It's interesting that they are much harsher and "primitive" sounding than the quiet beeps on the older Desiros.