Strange Locomotive Bell Placement

[EngineerJohn]

I know its common for some engines to have their bell placed on the front engine deck but the NYC did things a little different with their 4-8-4's.

Those plows better have been tough.

Just a little strange thing I came across I thought some of you would find interesting.

niagara bell.jpg

[BigBoyMoon]

Clearance would be my guess

[BNSFdude]

I bet they didn't work all that great with snow packing in at high speeds down there.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Yes, top clearance. NYC also had to sink the smoke stack almost completely into the smokebox, hence the elephant ears.
And I believe the Niagara's used domeless boilers too so ALCo could use the maximum boiler diameter possible for these super power 4-8-4's.

Why the bell wasn't hung from a hanger under the headlight? Perhaps to keep the Alco front free from clutter? No, the smoke box door wasn't completely circular.

[ErikGorbiHamilton]

I always found other bell locations unique. One of my personal favorites has to be the ones that the MEC rebuild program put on their units in the early 80's.

mec253.jpg

These fellows got ditch lights well before the mandate as well!

[gtrtroger]

Can you imagine trying to chisel out that bell surrounded in ice....... ugh!

[BNSFdude]

Can you imagine trying to chisel out that bell surrounded in ice....... ugh!

You know I totally forgot it was a steam loco posted. Those things had to be frozen solid frequently.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Interesting read for anybody interested in steam locomotives:

https://nycshs.files.wordpress.com/2014 ... agaras.pdf

One shouldn't envy those men in precarious positions all over the locomotive taking measurements, despite the shields and covers.