Dave Smith Wrote:
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> I've always said train horns should be modified to
> emit the soothing sound of a French horn or a
> classical oboe ..... maybe a bassoon? ;)


In my opinion one of the big reasons for so many complaints about train noise, especially train horns, is that horns made in the last ten years sound terrible! There really is no reason for this, other than laziness on the part of Mirco Precision, the company that makes Nathan Airchime horns. (Nathan Airchime K5HL horns are used on new GE units since 2003, whereas Nathan Airchiem K5LLA horns are used on new EMD units since 2003.) Here is a great video showing what I mean. This is a video from when UP 1996 was newly being introduced to the public. Part of the celebration was to pair it up with SP 6051 E unit. As both units are heading towards the event, both units begin sounding their horns. What you hear is the 1950’s P5 on top of the E unit, a beautiful melodic sound, and the modern day K5LLA that at best can only be described as a wall of noise. Now why can’t Micro Precision make that K5LLA sound as good as that P5!?
[youtu.be]
Now sure a lot of those older nice sounding horns don’t meet modern day FRA regulations, but remember when I said why can’t that modern day K5 sound as good as that P5? Well it can! A few of the K5HL (GE) horns have come out of the factory as “mistakes” that have a slightly different combination of bells (horn trumpets) than the standard K5HL. What has resulted is a modern day horn that sounds very much like that 1950’s P5. The NS Central of Georgia unit is probably one of the most famous units with this type of horn on it. Unfortunately this is considered a mistake by Micro Precision!
[youtu.be]
There really is no reason why all modern horns can’t sound this good. Most railroads have taken the position that if it makes noise, then it’s good enough instead of putting a little more time and effort into using a horn that is both effective, legal from and FRA standpoint and pleasant to hear.
Matt F
Moscow ID