Types of Train Horns

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Highest Rated Train Horn Kits
Rating: 5/5Rating: 5/5thntbl-table__imageHornBlasters Conductor's Special 540
  • Can be heard over a four mile range
  • Comes with the Viair 400C compressor
  • Includes a pressure switch
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Rating: 4.8/5Rating: 4.8/5thntbl-table__imageViking Horns 101C3
  • Has three, chrome plated trumpet horns
  • Includes a 1.5 gallon air tank
  • Can work in any vehicle from crossover to semi-truck
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Rating: 4.7/5Rating: 4.7/5thntbl-table__imageHornBlasters Outlaw 127
  • Comes with the solenoid valve pre-installed
  • Uses stainless steel diaphragms
  • The 3 trumpets are mounted on one bracket
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Available Brands and Prices

Train horns come in different designs, sound levels, and purpose. Traditionally, these audible devices are designed to signal the arrival of a train so as to fast-track terminal operations such as track-switching, among other assorted warnings. Most train horns presently run on compressed air power; initially, most train horns used to run on steam. The train horn is controlled by a whistle post. The most common types of train horns are AirChime Limited K’ series train horns and the Leslie Controls Company SuperTyfon train horns, the other type of Train horn is the Buell Strombos air horns.

Nathan Incorporated and Leslie Control Train Horns

Nathan Manufacturing Inc and Leslie Controls Company are the two leading manufacturers of train horns. Nathan Manufacturing, Inc is the sole manufacturer of the AirChime model train horns. The company first introduced the K’ series designs in 1954; these train horns have remained popular to this date. The K3 model train horn plays three notes while the K5 model series plays five notes. The type “K” train horns offer the best noise and design technology; these horns have set the commercial standard when it comes to the railroad, truck and car train horn market.

Leslie corporation started producing air horns in the 1930’s; the company first bought the rights to the Tyfon series of horns, and later the SuperTyfon series from a Swedish entity Kockums. One of the favorite train horns manufactured by Leslie was the stylish RS-style spike-backed power chamber train horn. The R.S series air whistles have proved to be extremely efficient, producing unrivaled economy and performance in railroad, marine and industrial application. The qualities of Leslie R.S series train horns are reliability, cushioned diaphragm, freeze resistant, low-air-consumption, auto-electrical transformation capability and clear sounds.

Train Horn Prices and Purchase-Points

Every train horn device manufactured undergoes a series of tests before approval for market distribution. Some of the Nathan AirChime products available in the market through the online horn kits distributor trainhornkits.net include; Nathan AirChime K3LA Model_540 Train Horn Kit that cost $1,499.99, Nathan AirChime K5LA Model_540 Train Horn Kit which cost $1,799.99, Nathan AirChime P5 540 Train Horn Kit that cost $1,499.99 and the Nathan AirChime P3 540 Train Horn it that cost $1,149.00. On the other hand, the Leslie brands can be purchased from such web portals as eBay in varying price ranges. For example, the Leslie RS3L Train/Ship SuperTyfon locomotive horn can be purchased at about $699.00.

The Buell Strombos is a smaller player in the train horn business, some of their horns are used in large-trucks, industrial applications, ambulance, police, and marine management while some, especially the smaller ones may be purchased at low cost for nostalgic novelty keep. Wide range of available Buell Air Horn can be purchased directly from the company website bluellairhorns.com. These products include the Buell Single Rail Air Horn that cost $209.25, Blue 3-Chime Rail Air Horn that cost $627.75 and the Blue 4-Way Air Horn that cost $956.00.

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