Train Horns Save Lives
Train horns have been in use as long as have locomotives. They are used by engineers to alert motorists and pedestrians that the train is nearing a crossing, to inform passengers that the train will be departing the station and of course, to clear animals off of the tracks before a train comes through. Train horns are used by rail company workers during switching operations and when performing track work to let approaching trains know of their presence.
When internal combustion began to power the locomotives, the air horns from trucks were used but were not loud enough to be heard over the powerful diesel engines that the locomotives were using. The truck horn design was then upgraded by the railroad company, using oscillation to push the air through a power chamber and vibrate against a nozzle. The position of the diaphragm will allow more air or less air and the constant oscillation of the diaphragm creates waves of air that causes it to produce the sound of the horn. The North American locomotives that were manufactured before 1990 still used the old manual pull cord technique that was known as feathering, which just meant modulation was possible for the horns loudness. During the 1990s locomotive began using pushbutton controls and a pedal was built into the cab below the floor and when the pedal was pressed, it sounded the train horn.
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 sounds of train horns differ in meaning from rail company to rail company, as well as from country to 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 train horns are very annoying there is a definite purpose for them and people should not abuse them; or try to make quite zones where a train horn should be sounded. - 2368
When internal combustion began to power the locomotives, the air horns from trucks were used but were not loud enough to be heard over the powerful diesel engines that the locomotives were using. The truck horn design was then upgraded by the railroad company, using oscillation to push the air through a power chamber and vibrate against a nozzle. The position of the diaphragm will allow more air or less air and the constant oscillation of the diaphragm creates waves of air that causes it to produce the sound of the horn. The North American locomotives that were manufactured before 1990 still used the old manual pull cord technique that was known as feathering, which just meant modulation was possible for the horns loudness. During the 1990s locomotive began using pushbutton controls and a pedal was built into the cab below the floor and when the pedal was pressed, it sounded the train horn.
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 sounds of train horns differ in meaning from rail company to rail company, as well as from country to 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 train horns are very annoying there is a definite purpose for them and people should not abuse them; or try to make quite zones where a train horn should be sounded. - 2368
About the Author:
Yves B. Geller wrote this story. He is basically a car enthusiast but he carries out his passion 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.
posted by Frank Potter at 3:49 AM
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