Just posting to introduce myself. I’m Mike, from LI, NY, and I certainly wish I’d known about this forum a few years ago. Back then I made a summer project out of installing a compressor, air tank, truck horns, and a locomotive bell in my pick-up. Designing, fabricating, and installing electrical and air was a great time. That truck drove its last mile, and I;ve now got a new (for me) pickup. I’m currently working on fitting and installing the same setup in the new truck.
My father was a locomotive engineer, and when I was growing up I spent at least a weekend or two every month on the RR with him. I ate, drank, and dreamt all things RR when I was young. Though I’m not a hardcore train “buff,” I still love trains and have a nostalgic spot for the RR.
Combine the hobbies – working on the truck and a RR interest – and I imagine you eventually end up here. I don’t have train horns on the truck, and probably won’t be making that investment (both $$ and converting the truck into a horn platform) for a little while. One day I’d like to. In the mean time, I’ll stick with the truck horns and EMD bell – and I like to learn more about train horns. I did quite a bit of reading on the subject back a few years ago (when I was contemplating train horns), and though I’ve forgotten some of it, I’m looking forward to learning more. I’ve even probably communicated with some of you here in the past, as I’m sure this isn’t a huge community.
Looking forward to learning and getting to know those here,
Thanks e2e. Had a manual valves for both the horn and bell on the old setup – horn valve was a cheap Hadley part, and bell valve was a used Graham-White bell actuator.
I went through old photos and unbelievably, I don’t have too many of the finished product. I managed to find one, but unfortunately it’s from the fall and the bed of the truck is full of leaves. But better than nothing.
The bell bracket I designed to hold the bell and an Extremeaire compressor securely (the back of the truck was open, so I tried to incorporate a few features to keep anyone from easily unscrewing and snatching the goods).
The bell, as far as I can tell, was off an F40PH. When I got it, it was in pretty bad shape. I spent a while removing the grime and rust, applied rust-killer and primer, and then finally 2 coats of paint. Here it is after priming.
Looking forward to getting this in the new rig, although right now I’m hitting some trouble getting controls mounted in the dash.
Mike, we got lots in common. I used to work the rr on LI myself as did one of my parents. And I took a lot of cabrides before the old stuff was gone.
How long ago did your dad retire? PM me, I last worked there 10 years ago.
Can’t say I’m a buff anymore either since all the good old equipment left the rr in 99/2000. But I miss the sounds of the horns which is why I installed mine. Nostalgia at its best.
diesel, same exact story here. Can’t say I’m a buff, but lots of nostalgia. I miss the old equipment too, and took quite a few trips out to Montauk on GP38s, when they were in service.
I’m in to train horns for the same reason, and it’ll be great to get a K5LLA on the truck one day. The new rig is a 1997 Dodge 1500.
ETA: I can’t seem to PM you. I suppose it’s my low post count (for now).
