Train Horns
Have you ever heard the sound of a train horn passing by late at night? It’s a sound unlike any other. Have you wondered where that horn is from and how it came to signify a passing train? Train horns have their own special place in people’s imagination. Many stories and songs have been written about train horns and the lonesome sound they make. Unlike their predecessors, train whistles, train horns are loved by most people.
Over the years there have been many manufacturers of train horns. The following are the main ones:
Gustin Bacon Manufacturing Company - This company was manufacturing air horns for trains up until World War II.
The American Strombos Company - Their horns were used on the locomotives of the early age. Their version was a modified truck horn.
Westinghouse Air Brake Company - Also known as WABCO, Westinghouse was the first to make air horns designed specifically for use on trains, back in 1910.
As well as these companies the following are also credited with making horns for the trains. The history of the two giants who took the lead in the air horn industry and remain there today, begin with the company originally known as AMCO.
The man credited with creating the earliest air horns for trains, both the five and six chime types is Robert Swanson. Tese horns started as a hobby while he was employed by the Victoria Lumber Manufacturing company in the 1920s. Working together with Ernie Canon, George Challenger and Bill Piercy, he founded the AMCO (Airchime Manufacturing Company) in 1949. The H5, one of Swanson’s invention was the first multiple chime air horn to be used on trains - and it was a big hit with the public!
Choosing two markets for the horn, Nathan of New York for the American licensee and Hyson of New England, the Airchime Company took off thus, the name Nathan Airchime which is seen on the US horns. Undoubtedly the best model horn, which was Swanson?s final creation, is the model K. Dubbed the best liked and used horn it is at present the chief horn used by American railroads. This is the horn that is used to replace Leslie and Prime horns as they become unusable.
The founder of the Leslie Corporation, John Leslie, which was formed in the 19th century, was a manufacturer of many steam parts, not only for trains but ships as well. In the 1930s, John Leslie started making air horns for the railroad. Buying the rights of the Tyfon series, from Sweden, the production of the Tyfon A-200 became one of the best sellers This was the horn used by most trains of every type until the Airchime became a hot item about 1950.
Train horns have also found popularity with hobbyists, some of whom even install them on their vehicles! Naturally, these horns are too loud to use in traffic, but are great pieces for show and can be shown off at auto shows and the like.
The next time you hear a train horn in the middle of the night, you’ll be able to reflect for a moment about the men who made that sound possible. This is a sound like any other and if you are like many people, you’ll stop a moment and thank them.
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