Effect of Installation Location on Railroad Horn Sound Levels

摘要

In response to comments on these two provisions, the FRA, in conjunction with the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Environmental Measurement and Modeling Division, has undertaken a measurement study with the primary objective of documenting precisely the effect of installation location on the sound level output and directivity of railroad horns. This study examined through measurements, the sound level inside and around the locomotive for five types of horns, installed in four locations on two models of locomotive. By measuring and documenting the sound level around multiple horn and locomotive combinations in a consistent manner, the change in impacted area, warning effectiveness, and cab noise levels, caused by a change of horn type, installation location or locomotive model, can be evaluated. Secondary objectives of these measurements were to document the effect of the 104 and 111 dBA(A) maximum level settings.