Some Birmingham fire engines have a thundering air horn in addition to the two tones. It sounds like the Queen Mary going through the Bull Ring!

I was told the horn can only be operated by the Station Officer in the front passenger seat of the lead engine because it is so loud but it certainly clears the traffic if drivers don't move out of the way fast enough.

Anyone know who makes them?

I asked West Mids Fire Service but never got a detaled enough reply.

 

Theyll run of the vehicles air system, so they wont be simple/easy to fit to a car. Air horns are usually used to clear junctions, but they dont seem any louder than the parts retro fitted to many lorries.

 

eBay Motors: 152 DB TRAIN HORN COMPLETE AIR SYSTEM 12 V LOCOMOTIVE (item 350086334967 end time Aug-15-08 17:55:27 PDT)

 

Train Horn Kits & Air Suspension By HornBlasters, The Name In Locomotive Air Horns!

These do complete kits, horns and compressors and whatever else is required. Used to have some funny videos on there site not sure if they still on.

Not cheap though

 

you read my mind- check out you tube- there have been some great usa clips of young lads with railroad airhorns attached to their cars- driving slowly past peds and scaring them senseless.

I;m at work so can't be browsing, but sure someone will link it

 

I noticed this one a Surrey fire engine this week, it went past and was louder than anything I had heard on a fire engine before. Certain cleared the traffic quick!

 

Theyre no louder than the air horns mounted on the cabs of many lorries.

 

Thanks guy - knew someone would point me in the right direction.

 

Take a look at 'My scooby' .

The kits on Ebay are a good starting point, but I upgraded my air system to suit my needs more ..... ie more noise

Just do a Youtube search for 'WRX train horn'

 

I beg to differ.

The air supply on lorries is nowhere near the pressure my tank holds ...... 140PSi , the more pressure, the louder the horn

 

You beg to differ with what? Youve quoted a post out of context, that wasnt directed towards you. The horns on fire engines are no louder than those mounted on the cabs of many lorries. They too are running of the vehicles air system, so what is the relevance of a ten bar air supply in your car?

 

Sorry, you are correct about the Fire engines using the same air systems as normal tractor units.

My air system does create more air pressure than those on hgv's 'usually do', more air pressure equals more noise, also though, more volume of air also causes more noise, mine is running on a 1/4" valve, but I do have a 1/2" valve to replace my current valve.

The relevance of the air supply in my car, is that I need an air supply to power the horns, BUT, it does double up very well for inflating tyres etc as well .

The best way to mount the horns is also facing the ground, well on the WRX, I could not find anywhere that this was possible, so mine is not running anywhere near at its optimum performance .

The videos you see on Youtube from Hornblasters are exactly the same reactions that I get (if not better) when I sound mine. Just ask any of the SIDC Germany Rally lot

 

I love my bullhorn

 

Yep they are called Bullhorns

This video shows what they sound like:
YouTube - Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service

 

B0110x

 

A very low tone, but I would not say they are as loud as my setup

 

Even more like the Yanks now. They use a similar thing, or at least they do on the TV!

We have an office in the States which is almost next to a Fire Station, sometimes when you're on the phone to them, you hear the sirens in the background, especially the air horn jobbie, parp-parping to get the traffic out of the way.