k5hl k5lla or k3la

Main Train Horns
1

I want to get a k5hl k5lla or k3la it depends on what I hear most around me in the north east. Does anyone know what the CSX trains have. I already have k5la’s they are on most trains so they were my first choice.

2

Or maybe a Leslie rs5t

3

I prefer airchimes because I hear them more and Leslie’s are to big

4

If CSX is anything like NS it’s a good mix of horns…

5

It seems to be there are many variants but I guess I just can’t go wrong with any since they use many different kinds

6

Depends on the locomotive. An ex-Conrail will have a Leslie, and a new ES44 locomotive will have a K5LLA. Most older locos will have a standard K5LA. NS uses a lot of P3 and P5 horns as well.

7

I have heard them all in person K5HL k5H K5HA K5LA K5L K5LLA K3HA K3HL AND recently got a leslie rs-5t. the rs-5t is huge almost double in size of a k5la.
but from hearing all the horns in person. my favorite was the k5h or the k5la. im not to big of a fan of the 1L bell.

8

I’m thinking k5hl or rs5t

9

I’ve never stumbled upon a rs5t at work, YET… Would love to hear one in person.

10

I’ve just ordered. My k3la, I have a 5 gallon tank, a air solenoid. Pressure switch, do I need to install a regulator ? Many thanks

11

Welcome to the forum. If you don’t use a regulator then the horns will get whatever pressure is in the tank from the highest pressure switch setting to the lowest. By using a pressure regulator on the tank’s output the horns will get a constant pressure from it as long as the tank’s pressure is higher.

12

Depends what pressure you’re running for your tank. If you have a 150 psi system I’d say don’t bother unless you plan on regulating to 100 or so PSI.

On the other hand if you have 200 psi on tap in the tank then you can make better use of the air by running through the regulator. Although the K3 is marginally louder at 200, with five gallons the pressure drops away so quickly that there really isn’t much gain. It’s nicer if you can stretch the available air out a little longer by using the regulator.

I’ve been running 200 tank pressure direct to my K3 since I installed it, but I’m keen to install a regulator to make the air last a little longer. IMO the K3 sounds sweetest around the 115psi mark anyway - it’s not always about chasing max volume but everyone’s different.

If you’re worried about diaphragm damage - don’t. There’s far harsher things those horns are capable of enduring! As I said above, you won’t get to blow the horns at 200 for more than a split second anyway.