The E Series WABCo Train Horns
WABCo has also produced E Series train horns. Its E-2 models have been found to be competing well against Leslie’s Tyfon A-200 train horns. The E-2 horn of WABCo produces a very deep tone, and this makes it very suitable for use in early diesel engines.
The E-2 train horn has a more mellow sound, yet it could not be more popular than the Leslie Tyfon A-200 horn. Quite possibly, this can be due only to poor marketing strategies and efforts on the part of WABCo. If truth be told, not many products of WABCo can equal or surpass the popularity by those produced by Leslie, AirChime, and Nathan. Nevertheless, WABCo is providing them with quite a healthy competition.
The early models of the E-2 train horn were heavy, having been made using cast iron. In later years, the train horns were produced using sand-cast aluminum. The E-2 horn has a separate bell fastened securely with a pin to the housing of the diaphragm, resembling closely the train horn of Leslie’s Tyfons and the horns of WABCo’s B series. Unlike Leslie’s Tyfons and WABCO’s own B series, the E-2’s diaphragm housing is a rather complicated unit consisting of 14 pieces in all, with the main diaphragm comprising of three disks, and the clapper, 6 disks. The E-2 horn produces an E below the middle C.
The E-2 train horns are commonly found in road engines, switchers, and even homes and steam engines. They were quite popular until the mid-70s. WABCo still produces E-2 horns until the late 1990s, however, this time, the production is for export purposes only.
Another variety in the E Series of WABCO horns is the E-24 horn. Not much is written about the E-24 horn, except that it has often been used with the E-2B-2 three-chime train horn. The E-2 horn is also believed to make a sound of a B below the middle C.
Still another variety in the series is the E-44. The E-44 train horn forms part of the E-2B-3 chime horn. The E-44 is similar in appearance to the E-2 horn; the only difference is that it has a very short bell. Unlike also the E-2 horn, the bell of the E-44 horn is part of the diaphragm housing and mounting foot. Further, the diaphragm is composed of only two stainless disks, in stark contrast to the 14-piece very complicated housing unit of the E-2 horn. The design of the housing unit of the E-44 horn is not as complex as the E-2 horn. The E-44 produces an A, at 440Hz.
E-2B Three-Chime Horns
In response to the growing popularity of train horns produced by Leslie and Airchime, WABCo also decided to come up with three-chime train horns. The Westinghouse Air Brake Company began producing three-chime horns in 1954. The train horns consisted of single-note horns placed on a common mount. The horns have bells that our turned outward about 5 degrees.
The most popular of the three designs produced by WABCo for this series was the E-2B-1 combination. This type used an E-2 horn with a short bell and B-6 horns with long bells. This was considerably improved very soon, however, and the newer designs now consisted of E-2 bells with B-7-21 and B-7-25. The E-2B1 train horn blows an interesting chord composed of an E, an A, and a C.
The other design that WABCo came up with is the E-2B-2 combination. This train horn has an E-24 bell supported by B-7-30 and B-7-36 bells. This train horn can produce a B, and tones that are halfway between a D and a D#, and tones that are also halfway between an F and an F#.
The last design to have emerged in this series is the E-2B3. This is the final train horn developed for the E-2B series. This horn may not be as popular as the E-2B-1, but train horns of this type are, at least, being used by some railroads. The E-2B3 has an E-44 bell with B-7-30 and B-7-36 bells. It could play an A, and notes that are halfway between D and D#, as well as notes that are halfway between an F and an F#. The unique sound of this horn may be attributed to the strange tuning of the B-7 bells. Sometimes, the horn would sound a bit off key, but other times, it would sound as if it is blowing a major chord.
These train horns, however, failed to make a good name for themselves. They were not very well-liked, probably because there were not many uses for them.
