Best sounding horns

[william.martin]

They used to be even louder years ago, I remember reading that the horns were relocated and subsequently are quieter now.

Do the 185s and 195/6/7s have loud horns?

196's are "gentle giants"

 

[Kneedown]

180s too (turn your volume down if wearing headphones for this one):

The 180's horn does indeed have a rather pleasing tone (from the cab)

 

[dk1]

Surprised no one has mentioned the Stadler 745/755s. Great horns for such new trains

I absolutely detest them. Having to sit there & blast for 3 seconds with them sounding like a strangled seagull does my head in. So loud in the cab too.

 

[northernbelle]

Class 89/158/442 type horns are nice as they're distinctive.

In terms of "get out of the way" value, it has to be the Class 59.

 

[Strat-tastic]

For such an impressive loco I think a Western's horn sounds rather puny.

 

[xotGD]

The Waggon und Maschinenbau Railbus on the KWVR makes a very amusing noise.

But a Deltic horn has to be the best. Not only does it sound great, it let's you know that a Deltic is approaching.

 

[Master29]

Class 37 and 47's.

 

[Ashley Hill]

As mentioned in other posts, a Deltic horn every time. So distinctive.

 

[MCR247]

I absolutely detest them. Having to sit there & blast for 3 seconds with them sounding like a strangled seagull does my head in. So loud in the cab too.

That is quite a good description of it to be fair. I guess you’d know better than most!

 

[Mowgli]

I absolutely detest them. Having to sit there & blast for 3 seconds with them sounding like a strangled seagull does my head in. So loud in the cab too.

Couldn't agree more. Love your description as sounding like a strangled seagull! How can such a nice train have such an awful horn? And no matter how long I sound it I always get a comment from the managers saying that from the download I'm not sounding it for the full 3 seconds.

 

[dk1]

Couldn't agree more. Love your description as sounding like a strangled seagull! How can such a nice train have such an awful horn? And no matter how long I sound it I always get a comment from the managers saying that from the download I'm not sounding it for the full 3 seconds.

Yes I was getting 2.7 seconds so now do the wretched thing for at least 4.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

The HST has the beat horn !!!

 

[43066]

Couldn't agree more. Love your description as sounding like a strangled seagull! How can such a nice train have such an awful horn? And no matter how long I sound it I always get a comment from the managers saying that from the download I'm not sounding it for the full 3 seconds.

Yes I was getting 2.7 seconds so now do the wretched thing for at least 4.

Is that a driving policy thing? I’ve never heard of a requirement to sound the horn for any defined length of time.

 

[Some guy]

Has to be the 158

 

[Mike Machin]

Mk3 DVT

Completely off topic, but just seeing this clip I can't help thinking that we really do need to sort-out the liveries on our trains and get back to something that looks presentable, professional and inspires confidence. We don't need swooshes and swoops and a plethora of diagonals, stripes and half-baked logos. With tasteful design, less is more.

Back to the topic, I must admit I do like the MK3 DVT horn too!

 

[dk1]

Is that a driving policy thing? I’ve never heard of a requirement to sound the horn for any defined length of time.

Yes it's been a rule for several years now. Officially 1 second before the board & 2 seconds after all in 'low' tone.

 

[Philip]

Yes it's been a rule for several years now. Officially 1 second before the board & 2 seconds after all in 'low' tone.

When is loud tone used?

 

[dk1]

When is loud tone used?

As a warning (two tone) for example track workers.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jan 2023 ==

There are others for special codes.

 

[Intercity110]

class 50 (the noise & the horn)

 

[Mowgli]

Yes it's been a rule for several years now. Officially 1 second before the board & 2 seconds after all in 'low' tone.

Although travelling around the country (well the south anyway!) it appears no other TOCs adhere to it. It just seems to be GA where they have a bee in their bonnet about a full 3 seconds.

 

[43066]

Yes it's been a rule for several years now. Officially 1 second before the board & 2 seconds after all in 'low' tone.

Talk about ridiculous micro management! Existence justification by somebody I’m sure…

 

[dk1]

Talk about ridiculous micro management! Existence justification by somebody I’m sure…

Totally. Got used to it now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jan 2023 ==

It’s that & the ‘pause for doors’ (or lack of) that are picked up most on our downloads.

 

[Trackman]

But a Deltic horn has to be the best. Not only does it sound great, it let's you know that a Deltic is approaching.

Has my vote too ... 'The Deltic Donkey'
I travelled behind 9&19 shortly after preservation on the NYMR, thing was they had no Deltic horns just sub-standard replacements - they sounded like first gen DMU horns. Spoiled the day, asked for my money back and complained to the DPS .. (NOT!)

 

[satisnek]

Wasn't there something about the Turbostar/Electrostar horns being too loud when first delivered? I noticed years ago that they have things which look a bit like microphone windshields on them (presumably they still have) - were these fitted to reduce the sound level?

 

[WizCastro197]

Wasn't there something about the Turbostar/Electrostar horns being too loud when first delivered? I noticed years ago that they have things which look a bit like microphone windshields on them (presumably they still have) - were these fitted to reduce the sound level?

Do you mean this? It is just an extra light (as evidenced by them second attached image), although it isn't too effective, perhaps at night it is and in darker stations like London Victoria? It don't think it has anything to do with the muffling of the horn sound?

 

[william.martin]

Do you mean this? It is just an extra light (as evidenced by them second attached image), although it isn't too effective, perhaps at night it is and in darker stations like London Victoria? It don't think it has anything to do with the muffling of the horn sound?

It's up to @satisnek to answer that however I certainly know that there is some kind of plastic obstacle infront of the horns on the 170's, weirdly I always used to notice these little plastic covers before the 196's invaded our line.

 

[WizCastro197]

It's up to @satisnek to answer that however I certainly know that there is some kind of plastic obstacle infront of the horns on the 170's, weirdly I always used to notice these little plastic covers before the 196's invaded our line.

Do you mind attaching an image from where said 'plastic obstacle' is on the train please? That would be most helpful.

 

[william.martin]

Do you mind attaching an image from where said 'plastic obstacle' is on the train please? That would be most helpful.

I have attached the best I can get, from the image you can't see the actual horn however you can see the plastic cover, next time I'm on or around one I'll get a close up

 

[WizCastro197]

I have attached the best I can get, from the image you can't see the actual horn however you can see the plastic cover, next time I'm on or around one I'll get a close up

Ah alright, I wasn't comepletely sure where the horn was placed on the 377/170, but I don't think thee 377 has this cover, the 171s do however.

 

[william.martin]

Ah alright, I wasn't comepletely sure where the horn was placed on the 377/170, but I don't think thee 377 has this cover, the 171s do however.

The 377's certainly don't judging by that photo, I just had a look on TSW (yes, I know it's not always 100% accurate) and there is no cover on the 377.