> We lost a truck air horn on our Plasser
> crane between June 25 - June 28. The crane
> is locked inside a fenced compound. There is
> crawl space under the track gates. The horn
> was installed about 18 months ago and not
> original to the equipment.

Is there any way of rigging the horns to a compressed air tank so that they would sound if some one tried to lift them? Having a set of five chimes go off less than a couple of feet from the perps might be a pretty effective cure for this problem. Not only that, the sound of a wailing horn would probably bring the local P.D. in to deal with the guilty parties before they get away.

Paul Kattner

paulkattner@hotmail.com

> Is there any way of rigging the horns to a
> compressed air tank so that they would sound
> if some one tried to lift them? Having a set
> of five chimes go off less than a couple of
> feet from the perps might be a pretty
> effective cure for this problem. Not only
> that, the sound of a wailing horn would
> probably bring the local P.D. in to deal
> with the guilty parties before they get
> away.

> Paul Kattner

if they did manage to pick themselves up off the ground and clear out before the cops got their, the cops could always follow the "trail" on the ground they left!!{running out the britches leg}!

Andy J


SD45@CSX-sucks.com

> if they did manage to pick themselves up off
> the ground and clear out before the cops got
> their, the cops could always follow the
> "trail" on the ground they
> left!!{running out the britches leg}!

> Andy J

A former cop at my workplace recommended a cheap solution for protecting rail equipment in rural areas on a budget. He said that he had good luck using old car parts. Essentially his system used an car battery that was somewhat past its expiration date (could still hold some amps, but not enough to reliably start a car), a automobile horn relay, one or more automobile horns (I recommend Cadillac horns based on personal experience with my '71 Sedan Deville), and a trip wire.

I suspect that these components could be acquired from any junk yard (or Redneck worthy of his title) for minimal cost or maybe there is one or two clapped out high rail trucks that could be donors.

On a locomotive, the trip wire could be run inbetween the stanchions (sp) on either side of the ladder. Anyone who had any business being on or around the equipment would know how to disable the alarm.

He said that usually the perps did not hang around long enough to disable the alarm and the trip wire could be concealed in high grass or junk (gee nobody has any of that around their equipment, right?). He also said that an el-cheapo "Walgreens Special" 35mm camera (with flash) could be used with this system also. Typically the crook would not try to find or destroy the camera. Of course the ultimate way of dealing with the problem would be to have set up so that the ol' five chime would sound but that might not be technically feasible or too provoking for local nimby's.

Paul Kattner

P.S. A healthy coating of a persistent grease (something like cosmoline) on the horn might also help to deter theives.



paulkattner@hotmail.com

> Why do they hide them? Perhaps to save
> themselves from harassment until they are
> needed

*I reiterate: The laws are on the books. The function of big locomotive air horns can be served with products designed for the trucks at lower cost that actually pass the laws. Besides, you described behavior that sounds less like a safety issue and more like instigations of road rage (blowing at cars that cut you off, for example). At 20 feet the difference between a chime set of Grovers and a set of Leslies is not that big safety-wise, but IS a danger to one's hearing.

It would be all good and well if truckers mounted such horns and ONLY used them if they were, say, running away without brakes on a hill. But you and I know that this isn't what they're wanted for.

(There are many police officers feel
> big trucks are fair game because they know
> the guy isn't local and probably won't come
> back to fight a questionable ticket.)

*I will fully concede that the issue of horn volume is a nit-picking, inconsistent bunch of laws best addressed by truck inspectors and not local police or sherriffs.

And perhaps keep them from being liberated.

*Well, gee golly willikers, who would *ever* think of stealing a TRUCK horn? Since it's not attached to locomotive, none of those thievin' railfans would be interested now, eh? Conversely, mounted low on the right side
> frame rail is exactly where they'll do the
> MOST good most often.

*Sooooo............ these truckers AREN'T just using them for emergencies only?

> It is EASY to blame the other guy, harder to
> look for the bums within your own ranks.

*I fully concede that the SMS robbery has all the hallmarks of a "railfan" job. But we've also heard of too many instances of horns being "liberated" in heavily-industrial areas to make us think otherwise about the truckers. If I acknowledge that there are bad apples in the railfan barrel, will you do the same about truckers?

you described behavior that sounds
> less like a safety issue and more like
> instigations of road rage (blowing at cars
> that cut you off, for example).

The point, I think, is to startle the oblivious driver into dropping his cell phone into his cup of coffee, splashing out his ciggy and hopefully spilling it on his morning paper too. (Yes, I've seen quite a few of these guys, 70mph in their Acuras with a cup of coffee and cig in one hand, cell phone in the other and newspaper spread out over the steering wheel - even better is the women busily applying makeup in her rearview mirror at 60mph plus)

> It would be all good and well if truckers
> mounted such horns and ONLY used them if
> they were, say, running away without brakes
> on a hill. But you and I know that this
> isn't what they're wanted for.

Some moron trying to tuck himself into your side tank and push you out into oncoming traffic isn't an emergency? What about cutting you off with INCHES not feet to spare? You fellows talk about how long it takes a train to stop, but if a truck driver locks up the brakes on a big rig - guess who has to pay for a couple grand worth of flat spotted tires, IF he doesn't end up jack-knifed.

> *I will fully concede that the issue of horn
> volume is a nit-picking, inconsistent bunch
> of laws best addressed by truck inspectors
> and not local police or sherriffs.

Until you've actually been cited by a local sheriff for "non operating safety equipment" to the tune of $62.60, plus $40 court costs, plus a $90 emergency response fund for one lightbulb with a bad ground (flickers) you won't know the half of it. If they arrested the morons instead the truckers wouldn't feel the need for loco horns. OR to conceal them until needed.

> *Sooooo............ these truckers AREN'T
> just using them for emergencies only?

Please reread above

If I acknowledge that there are
> bad apples in the railfan barrel, will you
> do the same about truckers?

There are bad apples even amongst the Amish. Yet we don't normally base our opinion of the entire group based upon those few

It wouldn't take much to electrically isolate the horns and rig a relay to open an air valve when they become grounded - unfortunately a heavy dew or rain could possibly set them off too.

I'm surprised no one has suggested a cage made of welded 1/4" rod yet. If looks aren't important, it WILL slow them down.

Another option is to put a junked out (not worth the effort to steal) set on top of the cab and mount the good ones elsewhere

> P.S. A healthy coating of a persistent
> grease (something like cosmoline) on the
> horn might also help to deter theives.

Nev'r Seize, steam cylinder oil or truck 5th wheel grease, open gear and cable lube - none of the above comes out of clothes, the Nev'r Seize is even silver/grey

Back to railway preservation, please.

eledbetter@rypn.org