Better Gas Mileage

Have you ever wondered where exactly that high lonesome sound you can hear sometimes at night comes from? Obviously it’s a train horn - but are you curious about where that horn came from? There is so much lore, including many songs which have been created around the sound of a train horn as they speed down the track. Train horns managed to capture the collective imagination in a way that train whistles never quite succeeded in doing.

Quite a few different companies have manufactured train horns in the past, the most well known of these include:

Gustin Bacon Manufacturing Company - Prior to World War II this company had air horns for use on trains.

The American Strombos Company - Based on a truck horn, the Strombos horn was in use on early locomotives.

Westinghouse Air Brake Company - Also known as WABCO, they were the first ones to actually make air horns that were designed for use on trains. This dates back to about 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.

Robert Swanson is credited with developing the first air horns, five and six-chime type, for trains. Working at Victoria Lumber Manufacturing in the 1920s, this began as a hobby. Partnering with George Challenger, Ernie Canon, and Bill Piercy the company known as AMCO (Airchime Manufacturing Company) was born in 1949. The first multiple chime air horn used on the trains was the H5 developed by Swanson. It was a big hit and the public let it be known that the horn was a very desirable sound.

The horns were licensed to two different companies; Nathan of New York and Hyson of New England. It was this way that the Airchime company really grew. The name Nathan Airchime is seen on U.S. produced horns, including the model K, Swanson’s last and finest horn. This horn is still the one most commonly used by rail companies in the U.S. These horns replaced the Prime and Leslie models of horn as they aged.

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.

And of course, train horns have used beyond trains. Some people are even installing these horns on their own vehicles (or having them installed). Of course, there is the problem that these horns are far too loud to actually be used in traffic. These horns are for show or to be demonstrated at hobbyist’s meetings.

So the next time that you hear a train passing in the night, take a minute and reflect on these horns and how they were created. You’ll hear this truly unique sound and maybe, just maybe whisper a quick thank you to those who made this sound possible.

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