| The loud, long tones heard around railroad crossings | | | | passes through a diaphragm that's inside the power |
| are made by train air horns which are found on most | | | | chamber, in turn the diaphragm vibrates against a |
| diesel locomotives. The main purpose of the warning | | | | nozzle which produces the sound. The shape and size |
| sound is to alert motorists, pedestrians and even | | | | of each individual trumpet, determines the sound |
| animals that a locomotive is approaching. It's easy to | | | | frequency that is produced. |
| understand how important this warning is when | | | | Train air horns have become an ultra popular add-on |
| considering that a train striking an automobile can | | | | for trucks, SUVs, and even cars. In fact, when they |
| produce the same level of damage as when a car | | | | first started showing up on passenger vehicles there |
| runs over a soda can. They're also used to provide | | | | was also an increased incidence of theft from parked |
| signals to railroad employees especially during | | | | locomotives. It's easy to conclude that the majority of |
| switching operations. | | | | stolen devices ended up as a hot add on to |
| So, now you know what and why locomotives have | | | | customized vehicles. |
| them, but how do train air horns work? They use | | | | Today train air horns are available to enthusiasts |
| compressed air that's usually in the 125-140 psi (pounds | | | | through automotive aftermarket dealers as well as |
| per square inch) range. An air compressor pressurizes | | | | several online stores that deal in the devices. Although |
| the air which is stored in a air tank until called for when | | | | the mechanisms are scaled down from the size of |
| the engineer activates the trumpets (also called bells or | | | | those on locomotives to fit in the space available in a |
| chimes). | | | | truck or car; they can still produce authentic sounding |
| As the pressurized air flows through the device it | | | | chimes at up to 150 decibels. |