Train Horns! Part 6 - Nathan K3 Series - (K3LA, K3LB, K3HL, K3L)

Train horns! is a video series that listens to different types of air horns used on North American locomotives at railroad crossings.

Part 6 features the Nathan Airchime K3 series. I decided to mix the K3LA and K3L into one video, along with one example of a K3HL and K3LB (K3LP).

If you like train horns, please check out my playlist here:
   • Awesome Train Horns  

More information about the Nathan K3 series can be found below the video timeline:
0:00 - BNSF 9776 K3LA - 2/20/15
0:40 - NS 6808 K3LA - 5/12/15 - (ex-BNSF SD60M)
1:05 - Canadian Pacific 5690 K3L - 6/05/15
2:10 - Canadian Pacific 9811 K3L - 6/10/15
2:50 - Canadian Pacific 4650 K3L - 6/10/15
3:15 - CN 2586 K3L - 6/26/15
4:10 - Canadian Pacific 9755 K3L - 8/15/14
5:05 - UP 4553 K3LA - 10/13/15
5:35 - NS 7284 K3HL - 11/13/15 - (ex-UP SD90MAC)
6:05 - MEC 609 K3LA 12/09/15
6:50 - Canadian Pacific 8540 K3L - 2/17/16
7:25 - UP 6684 K3LA - 6/14/15
8:10 - NS 7238 K3LA - 7/02/16
8:50 - UP 4572 K3LA - 8/19/17
9:30 - NS 9559 K3LA - 4/15/18
10:15 - NSHR 1946 K3LA - 6/26/18
10:55 - UP 4824 K3LA - 8/08/18
11:30 - PRLX 228 K3LA - 10/05/18 - (Sorry for the rendering error, I don't know what happened)
12:05 - NS 5827 K3LB aka K3LP (1L, 1, 3B) - Rare! - 2/01/19


The standard K3LA uses the 1, 2, and 4A, bells, while the "Canadian" K3L uses the standard 1, 2, and 3 bells. The K3L, and the 5 chime K5L have been in production since since 1954, while the "American" tuned K3LA was introduced in the mid-70's with the arrival of the 4A bell.

The K3LA is typically found on BNSF and Union Pacific locomotives (built prior to the GE Evolution series and SD70ACe) while K3L "Canadian horn" is common on Canadian Pacific and Canadian National (except SD70M-2's). This is part of the reason the K3LA has primary become known as an "American-tuned K3", while the K3L is referred to as "Canadian-tuned". The K3LA is also a common choice on American shortlines, while the K3L can be heard on Canadian shortlines, such as the CM&Q.

In rare instances, K3 horns come in modified bell arrangements, most commonly using the newer 1L bell introduced in 2004: NS 5827 is an example of this with it's K3LB horn (1L, 1, 3B) with a similar bell arrangement and tuning heard on a Leslie RS3L. The K3HL (1L, 1, 2) is often found on Union Pacific AC6000CW and SD90MAC (AC44CW and SD9043MAC) locomotives.


Central Penn Rail Productions 2019

Thanks for watching!