osrr
Trainmaster
Posts: 130 
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Post by osrr on Apr 12, 2014 23:41:49 GMT -5
I'm curious if a horn can be mounted by (or close) to the radiator on an Alco c420 (or any century)... similar to how the horn is mounted between the radiator and exhaust stacks on some EMDs. I'm having a hard time finding pictures of an Alco with the horn NOT mounted on the cab.
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Post by Mark R. on Apr 14, 2014 11:32:13 GMT -5
On a C420, there really isn't any place to mount a horn back there. There's a removable hatch between the exhaust stack and the radiator, so they wouldn't mount it there for maintenance purposes.
The Long Island mounted their horns on the side of the long hood about two thirds back.
Mark.
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Post by iomalley on Apr 14, 2014 13:03:09 GMT -5
Underneath the hatch that surrounds the exhaust stack is a water expansion tank without much room for piping up to a horn.
Alcos were pretty much gone from class one service by the late 70s and horns weren't being moved back on the carbody until the 80s. Shortline RRs often didn't bother moving the horns on their 2nd hand units either.
CP moved the horns back on all their MLWs in the 80s, and it might be prudent to check photos of their placement, which was usually beside or just ahead of the exhaust stack.
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osrr
Trainmaster
Posts: 130
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Post by osrr on Apr 14, 2014 15:13:14 GMT -5
Underneath the hatch that surrounds the exhaust stack is a water expansion tank without much room for piping up to a horn. Alcos were pretty much gone from class one service by the late 70s and horns weren't being moved back on the carbody until the 80s. Shortline RRs often didn't bother moving the horns on their 2nd hand units either. CP moved the horns back on all their MLWs in the 80s, and it might be prudent to check photos of their placement, which was usually beside or just ahead of the exhaust stack. Then I guess there's no reason it couldn't be mounted somewhere but, have an external line like this geep. |
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Post by iomalley on Apr 14, 2014 17:56:01 GMT -5
Yes and no. The Alcos have top hatches that allow access to the cylinder heads so the line would have to snake along this hingeline and the dynamic brake grids so you could still open these hatches. That GP38 has a pipe that is routed around any serviceable parts so you could strip the parts (inertial hatch for eg) off the unit (barring removing the carbody) without affecting the horn pipe.
Horns retrofitted on EMD units are typically routed externally due to the complexity of routing thru the inertial filter area. Alcos have more room to route them inside.
I'd also add that if the EMD/GE unit was built with the horn to the rear, it is probably electrically controlled with an air line straight from the air tanks in the shortest route and an electric valve that activates it, simplifying the setup. That also makes for a more crisp on/off sound, rather than if the air valve was in the cab and air had to travel the length of the engine to the horn.
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