[applor]

Hello,

My layout is 1954 Germany so I have a combination of steam, diesel and electric locomotives.
I am half German but born Australian so I have never lived there and only understand a few words sorry.

My layout has automatic control using Rocrail and I am programming sound triggers but I am not sure when they are used.

Can someone please advise the correct application for whistle, horn, bell and conductor whistle for this period?

What I believe:

whistle (steam) or horn (diesel/electric): leaving station, entering tunnel, approaching railroad crossing. Is it used leaving a tunnel as well?
conductor whistle: signals to the driver that the train is ready to depart the station
bell (steam): driver signals the train is departing. Diesel/electric locomotives used the horn instead?

Thanks!

[Erich Müller]

Hi Eric,

concerning the bell: it is used only on secondary lines to warn people on the crossings.

The whistle (or horn)... See http://www.bahnstatistik.de/Signale_pdf/SB-DRG.pdf
It is the rule book for early DB before the new signal book in 1959.

Zitat

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161. Signal »Zp 1« ist zu geben vor dem Ingangsetzen der Güter und Militärzüge, im übrigen, wenn es
notwendig erscheint, Personen zu warnen (FV § 55 (3), 58 (4) und 84 (6)) oder die Aufmerksamkeit der
Zug- oder der sonstigen Bahnbediensteten zu erregen, ferner an den durch Pfeiftafel (Kennzeichen »K
7a« oder »K 7c« gekennzeichneten Stellen. "Wo die Örtlichkeit oder andere Umstände es verlangen, ist
es nach Bedarf zu wiederholen." Bei Nebel, Schneegestöber und dgl. ist das Achtungsignal auch
mehrmals in angemessenen Abständen vor den weder durch Pfeif- noch durch Läutetafeln (Kennzeichen
»K 7b« gekennzeichneten und nicht durch Schranken oder Warnlichter gesicherten Wegübergängen zu
geben.
Bei der Einfahrt in Tunnel ist ohne besondere Kennzeichnung stets Signal »Zp 1« zu geben, und zwar
beginnend kurz vor der Einfahrt und endigend nach der Einfahrt in den Tunnel.
162. Hält es der Lokomotivführer aus besonderen Gründen (große Zuglänge, starke Krümmungen und
dgl.) für notwendig, die Zugbegleiter wegen sicherer Aufnahme des Signals »Zp 2« vorher durch Signal
»Zp 1« aufmerksam zu machen, so ist zwischen Signal »Zp 1« und Signal »Zp 2« eine längere Pause zu
machen, um Verwechslungen mit Signal »Zp 4« vorzubeugen.
163. Die Stellen, an denen Signal »Zp 1« regelmäßig gegeben werden muss, sind durch Kennzeichen
»K 7a« (AB 251) bezeichnet und im AzFV bekanntgegeben. Auf Nebenbahnen vgl. auch Läute- und
Pfeiftafel - Kennzeichen »K 7c« - AB 256.
164. Wegen der Anwendung beim Halten vor Hauptsignalen siehe FV § 61 (1) beim Nachschieben FV §
59 (5) und (6), beim Erkennen nicht geschlossener Schranken FV § 50 (3).

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Google may be a better translator than me.
Just some lines :
Whistling is obligatory on departure of freight trains and military trains, and whenever the conductor must warn people or get the attention of railmen.
He must whistle before entering a tunnel, and stop whistling only after having entered the tunnel.
He must whistle at the whistling signal (a black P on white rectangle), and if he has no bell, he has to whistle when the bell is demanded (a black L on white rectangle, see signals K7).

No locomotive bell on the station indeed - but there was bell signaling in the station to announce departure of a train. And the mouth whistle by which the train chief signals "ready to departure" to the conductor.

[applor]

Excellent thanks Erich!

[Guardian71]

Zitat

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bell (steam): driver signals the train is departing. Diesel/electric locomotives used the horn instead?

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in addition to Erich's posting - the bell mounted on steam engines (in German "Läutewerk" or colloquially "Bimmel") was a signal used on branch lines only. Generally, it was used to signalise the train arriving, in particular when approaching (unguarded) level crossings. The driver had to start ringing the bell permanently as of a sign showing an "L" (=läuten / to ring the bell) until the train had passed the crossing (later instructed by a sign showing an "L" striked through). Diesels used a horn instead, but I do not believe permanently.

Cheers
Mark

[applor]

Thanks Mark.

Another question then:
If the branch line crossing was guarded (barriers/lights) then there would be no signal 'L' and therefore no bell used?
Is it possible a signal 'L' was still in place at guarded crossings, or always removed when the crossing would be upgraded to guarded?

[Erich Müller]

Hello Eric,

Zitat

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If the branch line crossing was guarded (barriers/lights) then there would be no signal 'L' and therefore no bell used?

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No, normally no "L" and no bell.

Zitat

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Is it possible a signal 'L' was still in place at guarded crossings, or always removed when the crossing would be upgraded to guarded?

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Installing a barrier and a guard house is very expensive, they will do it only if really they must. So this case is rare.
And we are in Germany - so they will not forget a non valid signal on the line.
Since the Fifties, automatic barrier installations have been developed ; they need even installing new signals on the line, which means that the old L plate will be removed for sure.

Never say never - but the probability is very, very, very low.