Is there a site that lists the proper air horn or whistle for locomotives

[gary233]

Most DCC Locomotives these days come with an assortment of horn/whistle selections.  Usually I just pick one I like.  

Other than researching each locomotive, is there a list or website that matches the appropriate horn/whistle with the locomotive?

[rrinker]

 Various historical societies for specific railroads MIGHT have that info. To get the exact one definitely needs some research, espcially on post-merger railroads, like Conrail. THere is no one standard "GP40-2 horn" - the railroads that ordered the locomotives specified what horn they wanted. If you take locos from multiple predecessor railroads, now you have say a bunch of Conrail GP40-2s where some have one type of horn because they came from one railroad, and others of the exact same model locomotive have a different horn because they came from a different railroad. 

 There are some horn sites that have pictures of various horns, so combined with a decent picture of the prototype that shows the horn clearly, you cna make a fairly educated guess as to which exact horn it is. Here's one: 

http://www.dieselairhorns.com/collection.html

This guy is local to me and has a rack in the back of his truck where he mounts horns and brings them to various (outdoor, of course) railroad shows and demos them.

                                         --Randy

 

[gary233]

So maybe a non-issue.  I guess I’ll stick with what I like.  After all my railroad is freelance and is not depicting any specific railroad.  In fact it’s renamed The Gary Louis Railway. 

I guess the real question relates to major differences. Could an NW2 have the same horn as an GP9? Or a Mikado the same as a 0-6-0?

[BNSF UP and others modeler]

This might help: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/269145.aspx. Also check this page on the soundtraxx website here: http://www.soundtraxx.com/choose/choose5.php. 

I found the second link really helpful while asking the same question as your first one.

[gary233]

BNSF UP and others modeler

This might help: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/269145.aspx. Also check this page on the soundtraxx website here: http://www.soundtraxx.com/choose/choose5.php. 

I found the second link really helpful while asking the same question as your first one.

 

Thanks that’s helpful. Found the steam whistles too 

[wjstix]

gary233

I guess the real question relates to major differences. Could an NW2 have the same horn as an GP9? Or a Mikado the same as a 0-6-0?

 

Most 1st generation diesels came with a single-chime "BLAT" airhorn - switchers, road diesels, and passenger all had the same. During the 1950's some railroads started to replace these with multi-chime airhorns, using three or five tones which produced a more pleasing sound than the "BLAT" horns. However, some railroads like the Soo Line kept using the single-chime horns.

 

Keep in mind not all diesels had airhorns. Several railroads (including the one I grew up watching) used Hancock air whistles, which sounded like a steam whistle.