SP4449 Question?

[chrismoore93]

Hi guys,
I have a question for ya on the SP4449, or GS4 in general. Is the brass shaped like horn on top and to the right of the boiler an actual horn or what. You can see it on the Rail preservation forum picture. I was watching a video on the Daylight, and while it was departing I heard what sounded like a quick short 1 chime diesel horn? Off course, it could have been an engine on another track.
Thanks for any info,
Chris

[tclandwehr]

Yes that is a air horn. 4449 does have both a air horn and a whistle. The air horn is rarely used as Doyle hates it.

[chrismoore93]

Cool thanks for the response. Do you have any idea why Lima put it on there?
Thanks,
Chris

[AT&SF1024]

SP fitted alot of their steam locomotives with air horns ( cab forwards pacifics and daylights ) because of the operation of those types of locomotives out of the san francisco bay area, and the reason is the fog, an air horn's sound is direction and will travel further in fog than a steam whistle's sound will. Also it was because of sound activated grade crossing warning devices wouldnt work on a steam whistle.

[chrismoore93]

Thanks for the info. It's interesting to know that it had both a steam whistle and air horn!
Chris

[Bruce Butler]

I was one of the volunteers who helped with the 4449 restoration at the Hoyt street roundhouse during the fall of 1974. One day after that brass air horn had been cleaned and restored, I held it in my arms as we blew it with the roundhouse air supply. It was so loud that I could literally feel my ear drums vibrate! It is a wonder that I didn't go instantly deaf.
Bruce Butler

[glen]

My understanding was that the air horn was an efficiency move by SP: the whistle uses more steam than the horn uses steam converted to air. Anyway, I never thought a steam locomotive should sound like a diesel!

[Martin M]

In my opinion, steam locomotives should sound like steam locomotives instead of diesels. I'd much rather hear a whistle then an air horn.

[Ted knack]

I agree with the last post.Steam locomotives should only have steam Whistles. When 4449 was going south at Maiden Rock Wis. going to Rail Fair Doyle used it And my thought was he used it to alert people close to the track. Maybe im wrong .The Steam whistle should of had the same effect.