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Created January
25, 2024
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Page created by: PlyingKibbles89
| These bells started
popping up in the mid to late 2000's on the Seattle Sound Transit light
rail. These bells were used mainly by Sound Transit with CSX using them
occasionally in the late 2000's to early 2010's. Other users include
NS, KCS and NJT light rail. These bells have also been known to be used
in Brazil. These bells like very identical to the electronic bells made
by Western-Cullen-Hayes, with the main difference being only two
supports as opposed to four. The bell sounds somewhat similar to the
low-tone Safetran Type 3/Siemens electronic bell. GE passed on the
manufacturing of the bell to Progress Rail in the early 2010's. The
bell was discontinued around 2016. Up until 2020, not much was really known about them. In 2020, three railfans managed to obtain one of these bells on eBay. After more research, more information was discovered about these bells. GE and Progress Rail referred to them as the "Smart Bell". The bell has four contacts at the bottom, unlike most electronic bells which have two. The bell circuit board also has electronics to be able to communicate with something wirelessly and be able to monitor the bell status. The bell can produce a sound of 95-100 decibels and can take an input of 8.5-17 volts DC. The part number for the bell is 251311-000. |
General Electric electronic bell in Plant City, FL on 07-22-11. |
A GE electronic bell in Royersford, PA on 07-17-10. |
A dead GE e-bell on the NJT light rail in Hoboken, NJ, pictured on 09-12-17. |
A GE e-bell in Seattle, WA on 08-28-22. |
A GE e-bell in Chattanooga, TN on 10-08-16. |
The first video was taken by freebrickproductions, the second by TommyBNSF and the third by Kyle B Videography.
