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The command control sound effects offered on many new locomotive models are far more than just “cool” features. As Model Railroader magazine’s contributing editor Andy Sperandeo demonstrates in this video, the bell and whistle sounds can be used in a prototypical manner to enhance the operations on a layout of any size or scale!
Good to know. I am an avid railfan and I know all the bell and whistle signals. For this exercise The Minus Key “-“will be Long and the “O” Key will be Short.
“–” Two Longs is Forward or Go. Sound this when you are moving forwards or are ready to depart sound the bell before you move your engine and turn it off once you are out of the yard.
“OOO” Three Shorts is Back Up. Sound this to backup and get your cars also sound the bell before you move.
“OOOO” Four Shorts is Repeat Previous Signal. Sound this only if the previous signal was not heard or if you are operating in dark territory.
“-” One Long is STOP! The brakes are being applied and the train is not moving sound this when you are parked. Turn on you bell for two minutes and turn off your lights.
Everyone knows this one: “–O-” Two Longs a Short and a Long is The International Crossing Signal trains blow this when they are coming into town or are at a crossing or going into a tunnel or crossing a bridge. When you hear this train is coming.
You don’t want to hear this one ever: “OOOOOO” repeat. Six Shorts repeated is the Danger Signal If you hear that signal you are too close to the tracks so please move and stand 20 feet back.
Now some special signals some are not heard anymore: “-O” This one One Long and a Short is to alert track workers to get in the clear. Two Longs must be blown once the engine is clear of the work zone.
“-OOO” One Long and a Short is “Brakeman Head to the Rear and Attach the Lanterns or The FRED” only sound this if you are modeling the transition era but other then that use a radio if you model modern “OOOOO” or “OOOO” Five Shorts is North or East and Four is South or to the West.
These are some of the basic signals to know when modeling.
On bell rules: Sound the bell in all yards, Sound the Bell when going over crossings, Sound the Bell when in a work zone, Sound the Bell when going through a tunnel or crossing a bridge, Sound the Bell when passing a station or service terminal, and Sound the Bell when passing stopped equipment, on double track, or another train in the siding sound the whistle at the same time the signal for that is Two Longs sound another Two Longs once you are clear and turn you bell off once the last car is clear.