Steam Engines with air horns.........

[CBQ Fan]

How common was this?  I have a channel that shows a lot of vintage rail shows.  I have heard several steam engines blowing air horns at crossings.  A lot of this film was railfanning trips but there were a couple live freight applications also.  I always think steam wistle with steam engine and air horn with diesel........What say you?

[TiVoPrince]

SP
certainly had horns on the classic GS4 back in the day.  IIRC it was something about the horn being more effective than a whistle in that thick valley fog...

[Mark5]

SP is the only one I've heard of (<----- this guy is not a steam expert)

[Chris333]

I've seen a Erie 2-8-0 with a horn mounted to the firebox under the cab. Probably for switching.

[up1950s]

Milw 261   http://www.scienceguy.org/Portals/0/UltraVideoGallery/BillKuhl/Transportation/261SteamEngine.jpg

[David Leonard]

I recall riding (by car) across the Hudson River as an NYC steam loco passed underneath. If I remember correctly, it was a Mohawk or a Niagra and blew an air horn. And I've seen photos of other steam locomotives in which an airhorn was visible.

Also, FWIW, in the late 50's Santa Fe installed some steam whistles on F units, operated by air.

[altohorn25]

Milwaukee Road Atlantics #1-4 had air horns as well as whistles.

Nate

[hunter_alexander]

NYC Niagara's had the air horn.

[squirrelhunter]

KCS had some on their 4-6-2's assigned to the Flying Crow.

Folks have already mentioned SP's GS series and the NYC Mohwaks and Niagras.

Did C&NW's 4-8-4's pick up air horns upon rebuilding? I am thinking they did, but can't be certain.

DL&W's last series of 4-8-4's had them too I think.

[Bremner]

the cab forwards had an air horn under the cab

[Nato]

           Various Railroads had steamers with air horns,Milwaukee as pointed out ,roads that streamlined older steam for passenger service often added a horn.All of the SP GS Streamlined engines and rebuilt pacifics for the Sunbeam /Hustler train in Texas had them.I have always wondered of the New Haven Railroad's "Bessler Steam "power car had one. It looked like a shovelnose diesel,but was built alot earlier as a high speed high pressure steam motor car. Nate Goodman (Nato).