The Typical Train Horn Setup

Train Horn Setup

As you may already know, air horns need air to operate. So if you want to blow one, you need an air receiver that can supply air to your train horn. To be sure that your horn will work just fine all the time, you should get a compresor to fill the tank, a good plumbing and a valve to run the horn. If you want to have a more interesting horn you may use many odds and ends (regulators, air filtres and so many), but all those are not realy necessar.

About the tank

It`s good for you to know what kind of tank your setup needs so that you will be able to use it without putting your life in danger. That`s why I recommed you to use an ASME code air tank which have safety valves, and not any tank such as propane tank, or ones that are not ASME rated, because they are not done well. If you can`t aford a new tank and you are forced to buy one from second hand, to should make some tests before, just for your safety. These includes an hydro test that will help you to figure if it is still capable of the presure it was originally rated for. Taking into consideration that condensation exists in compressed air, your tank may corode from the inside. What is important about hydro testing is that it helps you to pressurize the vessel with water to a specified value over the rated pressure. If things don`t go well the tank might suffer a unimportant damage as a leak.

The proper size of a tank is about 21-22 gallons. This is suitable for K and P train horns and for many others like them. If you have some extra space you can also use a 50 gallon tank on two horns(M3 and S5T for example).

Moreover, you will need at least a ½” ID port to connect to the train horn`s air line. A drain port on the bottom of the tank is also necesaire to get rid of any damaging condensation that might form. Also, try to get some safe valves, rated for at least 125 pounds for horn blowing. Pay attention: the valves should be rated for at most the max working pressure of the tank. If you have rated you tank for higher pressure and want to obtain longer blasts you may use a regulator. In the end, to avoid any disaster, always use a gauge on the tank to measure the air that gets inside and do never fill a tank more that its rated pressure.

How to choose a compressor

There are many things that you need to take into consideration before getting a compressor. You need to be very sure about what you want and start to analyse the space you have, the way you will use it and not the least important, the money that you can spend on it.

It is why is very important to know which is the proper compressor for you. For this, you need to think very good for what kind of activity you will buy it: near the home or far away from . In case you choose the second variant, then a 12-volt Dc compressor or gasoline compressor should be your choice. They are not quite very large and this will make the tank recharge slowly. If this bothers you, then you may fit it to run off a car’s alternator, but make sure that everything is wired and spec-ed out right. If you opt for the first variant, then you can get a gasoline compressor. Unlike the other ones, these are much bigger but the recharge time will be more rapid, and the train horn will be louder. There is one more kind of compressor: the electric one. You may choose it if you are ok with charging your tank at home. An advantage is that this one is cheaper than a gas compressor and more efficient than a 12-volt compressor. For protection, make sure that the compressor’s shut off is set at most the max working pressure of the tank.