Train horns have been in use since the first locomotive was invented. Engineers use the horns to scare wild animals off the track, and to alert oncoming traffic of the presence of a train approaching a railroad crossing, they are used also to alert passengers that are boarding that it is time to leave. Railroad employee's often use a train horn when they are working on the tracks and during the switching operations.
Air horns were originally used in locomotives; similar to those used on trucks. However, as trains moved to internal combustion engines over steam or coal power, these horns were not loud enough to be heard over the new diesel engines. Truck horns were retooled by engineers at rail companies, with oscillation being used to push air through a power chamber and vibrate against a nozzle to create the sound we all know. The placement of the diaphragm lets more or less air to be pushed through, making for a horn which is louder or softer. Trains built before 1990 still employed the manual pull cord horns (the technique is called feathering). The pull cord allows the engineer to have some control over the volume of the horn. Since this time, trains began using pushbuttons and pedals to control the horn instead.
Recently, train horns have become popular with car and truck enthusiasts as an addition to their customized vehicles. Of course, train horns are not generally manufactured as vehicle accessories, since people are accustomed to hearing these at a train crossing - this makes them unsuitable for use in traffic and their use is outlawed in many places. Train horns have become controversial in general as many cities have implemented quiet zones where engineers may only operate their horns in an emergency. Unfortunately, these restrictions have lead to many accidents since motorists and pedestrians alike have been unaware of a train's approach.
The patterns to the sounds of train horns have different meanings depending on the rail company, as well the country.
In the U.S., the standard signal given by train horns at a crossing is two long horn sounds, followed by one short and one long. This pattern is repeated until the train has passed the crossing. In Florida, there was a ban on the use of train horns in many locales; however, this ban was lifted in only a few years because of the greatly increased rate of train accidents.
Even though a lot of people find the sound of a train horn to be an imposition, they have an important safety function and can save lives. Because of this, it is likely that quiet zones will become less and less common as more people understand the important function performed by train horns.
Air horns were originally used in locomotives; similar to those used on trucks. However, as trains moved to internal combustion engines over steam or coal power, these horns were not loud enough to be heard over the new diesel engines. Truck horns were retooled by engineers at rail companies, with oscillation being used to push air through a power chamber and vibrate against a nozzle to create the sound we all know. The placement of the diaphragm lets more or less air to be pushed through, making for a horn which is louder or softer. Trains built before 1990 still employed the manual pull cord horns (the technique is called feathering). The pull cord allows the engineer to have some control over the volume of the horn. Since this time, trains began using pushbuttons and pedals to control the horn instead.
Recently, train horns have become popular with car and truck enthusiasts as an addition to their customized vehicles. Of course, train horns are not generally manufactured as vehicle accessories, since people are accustomed to hearing these at a train crossing - this makes them unsuitable for use in traffic and their use is outlawed in many places. Train horns have become controversial in general as many cities have implemented quiet zones where engineers may only operate their horns in an emergency. Unfortunately, these restrictions have lead to many accidents since motorists and pedestrians alike have been unaware of a train's approach.
The patterns to the sounds of train horns have different meanings depending on the rail company, as well the country.
In the U.S., the standard signal given by train horns at a crossing is two long horn sounds, followed by one short and one long. This pattern is repeated until the train has passed the crossing. In Florida, there was a ban on the use of train horns in many locales; however, this ban was lifted in only a few years because of the greatly increased rate of train accidents.
Even though a lot of people find the sound of a train horn to be an imposition, they have an important safety function and can save lives. Because of this, it is likely that quiet zones will become less and less common as more people understand the important function performed by train horns.
About the Author:
Yves B. Geller wrote this story. He is mainly a car hobbyist but he carries out his love for cars through vehicle customization. He offers train horns to car, truck and boat owners but he is a firm believer that an air horn should be used responsibly.
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