GP30 Horn Placement

So are you saying you might reneg on an order you placed to have an engine with the horn in the correct place?

From my experience with Lionel and MTH, "inconsistent" is the best term to describe when they get prototype-specific details right.

MTH has gotten pretty much all the prototype-specific MARS lighting, cab window, horn placements in various phases pretty much dead-on with their Premier SD45T-2 and with the ditch light locations on their early 2000 release of the Premier Dash 9, but the later release of the Dash 9 doesn't factor in the ditch light locations (they now put them all on top of the front walkway whereas previously they located it both on top of the walkway as well as below it depending on the road being modelled.

Lionel on their SP U33C put the prototype-correct red gyralite on the cab above the number boards but didn't include the L-shaped windshield that was standard on the SP prototype.  Lionel also offered an SP SD40T-2 in speed lettering but used a cab number that was never painted in that scheme, and they use the same size fuel tank on both the SP and Rio Grande models where on the prototype the Rio Grande version used a noticeably smaller fuel tank than the SP.

So it tends to be hit or miss with both of them in general.

So, just exactly where is the correct placement of the horn on a GP30?

Rusty

No....no.  I run DCS so the MTH model will find a place on the layout.  I might just pickup the Lionel model as well because I like the site lines of the GP30 with the horn on the side.  Was just curious as to why the horn was is different locations and it appears it depended on the railroad.

The C&O/Chessie used a five chime horn. Because of vertical clearance issues, the horn couldn't be mounted on top of the cab.  It was split into two sections with 3 chimes mounted low on one side of the cab, the other two chimes mounted low on the other side of the cab.

Ken

Didn't see a New York Central GP-30 here. However, as one who was there when they were brand new, they too, split the horn placement much like C&O.

As for the 1200s on the Santa Fe; they were centered over the cab when delivered. As they went to rebuilding, horns were moved ala NYC, C&O to make room for the AC units.

CC

Dave's got your answer.  It's not the model you go by, but the prototype the model is trying to copy.  Not only that, but some RRs changed horns from one type to another.  I've got photos of Seaboard E7s initially with a Hancock Air Whistle, later replaced with a Nathan M3 or M5 horn.

CC, Ken, Harvey,

Really appreciate the insight!  Also to all who have contributed...amazing the wealth of knowledge on the board.  Thanks. 

The horns used by a railroad were more aligned with the purpose of the engine rather than a specific model.  A road that used GP's for road switching, yard switching and passenger service might have engines with 3 chime (road freight), single chine (yard) and 5 chime for passenger.  Personnel could tell what was approaching just by the tone of the horn.   Locations could be anywhere on the engine they would fit and get the necessary DB's required for safety while providing clearances so the horn didn't tear off something or get torn off itself.   Lack of volume was the main downfall of the air chimes on the New Haven EP-5's and FL-9's.  They weren't loud enough for todays standards.

Good sight on horns:

http://atsf.railfan.net/airhorns/

Different railroads might specify different horns on new locomotives, and might have different ideas about placement. Same with bells. Some railroads put their loco bells right out front, others stuck with a standard location under the frame.

At one time Union Pacific mounted diesel horns over the #1 radiator fan because of a concern that the horns might clog with ice in the winter. Then there was a concern that the horn might not project sound forward as well, and they were moved back to the front.