Great pic. It is a shame that 1580 doesn't have an actual bell anymore.
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As many high hoods as Altoona has cut down, one would think that they could have found enough bell parts to build a replacement for this locomotive. I have a brass air ringer bell that came from an Louisville & Nashville, E M D locomotive, probably an F unit or an early GP - 7 or 9. I was very surprised to find that it's ringer mechanism had almost no wear. The bell had several wear spots which leads me to believe that my bell had worn out several ringer mechanisms and is good for many more years. I would love to have a Southern high hood bell mount with an inch or too of the body around it. These electric bells simply don't do it for me, both at grade crossings and on locomotives. Hopefully these electric bells will turn out as badly as the Family Lines flashing strobe lights did. Before anyone asks, I am leaving my bell to my son as bells are hard to come by, even when bought. I also bought the actuating valve for it at the same time.
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