Do electronic bells disturb neighbors less?

[Robert Gift]

In China, atop the grade crossing signal I saw an exponential horn speaker aimed forward and slightly down.
Seems that more sound would beam right where it is needed - down the street - and less to nearby apartments.

Do American electronic bells do the same?
Have never seen any in person.

Thank you.

 

[TPWRY]

Those wayside horns are annoying. I'd say they are more annoying than actual train horns, but that's just me.

 

[Robert Gift]

Those wayside horns are annoying. I'd say they are more annoying than actual train horns, but that's just me.

I was referring to the e-bells.
The wayside horns are laughable and unnecessary.
But with such stupid "e-horns" at least whole neighborhoods aren't disturbed by locomotive air horns beginning blasting long before the crossing. And locomotive horn sound spreads everywhere - including to the rear with some horns facing rearward.

 

[TPWRY]

Theres no e-bells at any crossing like that in the US that I'm aware of. The only things that have a speaker facing down the street in the US are the wayside horns.

 

[Pat]

American electronic bells transmit sound 360 degrees. If they are less annoying would depend on the individual. I suspect the switch to an electronic bells is the general transition from mechanical to electronic devices.

 

[Robert Gift]

Theres no e-bells at any crossing like that in the US that I'm aware of. The only things that have a speaker facing down the street in the US are the wayside horns.

Many places have electronic bells. They are cylindrical and terminate the tops of the grade crossing signal masts.
I have heard them but have never seen any close-up.
A signal maintainer said thathey areplacing the real bells because the real bells' clappers go out of adjustment.

 

[Robert Gift]

American electronic bells transmit sound 360 degrees. If they are less annoying would depend on the individual. I suspect the switch to an electronic bells is the general transition from mechanical to electronic devices.

360 degrees is unfortunate if the crossing is over a road not near a T intersection or parallel road.
The Chinese exponential horn speaker is probably morefficient and directional so.und is going where wanted and less going where unneeded and unwanted.

 

[Pat]

360 degrees is unfortunate

Unless the intent is to provide a warning to anyone in proximity to the crossing that a train is approaching.

 

[kenw]

In China, atop the grade crossing signal I saw an exponential horn speaker aimed forward and slightly down.
Seems that more sound would beam right where it is needed - down the street - and less to nearby apartments.

Do American electronic bells do the same?
Have never seen any in person.

Thank you.

sounds exactly like the newer ones in the Houston (Sugar Land) area. They work very well.

 

[roee]

Every new crossing you'll see will have an electronic bell, and you'll see the mechanical gongs phased out as time goes on. They work better and are less maintenance. There can be problems with them, but they are light and easily replaced.

 

[Robert Gift]

Every new crossing you'll see will have an electronic bell, and you'll see the mechanical gongs phased out as time goes on. They work better and are less maintenance. There can be problems with them, but they are light and easily replaced.

Do they have a speaker facing up to an inverted cone which then reflects the sound out?

Would be nice if they could turn the openings 180 degreees apart to concentrate sound up andown the street while keeping lessound from going elsewhere.
(Streetlights in our neighborhood beam light up andown the street and sidewalk and less into the houses nexto the lights.)

 

[ECIRailfan]

They just recently redid all of our bells in less than a day. Then, they were gone.

 

[roee]

Do they have a speaker facing up to an inverted cone which then reflects the sound out?

Would be nice if they could turn the openings 180 degreees apart to concentrate sound up andown the street while keeping lessound from going elsewhere.
(Streetlights in our neighborhood beam light up andown the street and sidewalk and less into the houses nexto the lights.)

No, they do the opposite. The speaker is on top and points down, and some do have direction cones in them that block off 180 degrees. So you point the bell to go down the sidewalks and towards the street.

 

[Abilene Ks Railfan]

I hate those things,

 

[Robert Gift]

I also hatelectronic bells.

I hate those things,

But must admithathey are probably better heard by people withearing impairment and much bettereliability and directionality.
Also less power consumption and no need for periodic lubrication and adjustment.