Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

I read about the K-series horns, and I was surprised to learn they were originally made for Canada! I'm going to explain the details of this, and the stats on each model below.

First off, the third character in each model name, either an L or H, doesn't mean anything about the sound of the horn.
It indicates which style of manifold the bells are mounted on. For that reason, I've replaced the L or H with an M.


Secondly, there are 9 different bells used in the K series horns; note that the 1 & 5, & the 1L & 4 produce the same note, but at different frequencies:

• 1, which sounds a note in D#
• 1L, which sounds a note in C at
• 2, which sounds a note in F#
• 3, which sounds a note in A#
• 3A, which sound a note in G#
• 3L, which sound a note in A
• 4, which sounds a note in C at
• 4A, which sounds a note in B
• 5, which sounds a note in D#

The bells used in each model are listed, along with common usages of each, and in the case of the Canadian-tuned ones, some places where you can find them south of the border.

Canadian-tuned models:
These ones sound a D minor chord as mandated by the Canadian government.

K5M:
1, 2 3, 4, 5.

Used mainly by CSX & BC Rail regional. Rare even in other parts of Canada.
A couple of Amtrak locomotives have been found to use the K5L, however.
Sound

K3M:
1, 2, 3.

Used on older Canadian National & Canadian Pacific locomotives, and on VIA Rail Canada.
A total of 164 BNSF Dash-9 44CWs, numbered 960-1123 have this horn.

Sound

K5ML:
1L, 1, 2, 3, 4.

Very common in both America & Canada due to GE's extensive use of it on new locomotives.
I DON'T understand why they are mounded backwards, however.

Sound

American-tuned:
The first 2 sound a B major chord, the last one sounds a dischord.

K5MA:
1, 2, 3A, 4A, 5.

A classic with passenger carriers.

Sound

K3MA:
1, 2, 4A.

A classic with pre-2004 locomotives.

Sound

K5MLA:
1L, 1, 2, 3A, 4A.

Currently used on new EMD locomotives.

Sound

*EDIT*: Added links to sound samples, and made a change to the wording of the designations.

all the 500 numbered locomotives on the Pan Am Railways (Ex Guilford Rail Service) have either K3L's or K3H's. The 500 series are ex Canadian national GP40-2 (Safety Cabs). The K3L and the K3H are my favorite duo train horns. They aren't immature sounding horns nor are they too mature sounding horns. They are kinda in the middle. Thats what I like about them.