Airchime K2H | ||
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The K2H uses K-bells 1 and 2 attached to the sides of a special narrow manifold. This particular horn is fitted with optional screens over the bells to keep debris from fouling the horn. | ||
 | The 1975 Nathan Airchime catalog lists the K2H as a "standard 2-tone locomotive whistle as supplied on export locomotives." Few have apparently been supplied for use on domestic US locomotives. One exception is Railpower RP20BD and RP20CD genset locomotives, some of which use a K2H mounted in front of the cab in combination with a separate KS2 mounted on the rear of the cab as shown the third photo below.Not all Railpower gensets use this arrangement; many are fitted with a single K3LA instead. | |
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The K2H plays D# and F#, a minor 3rd interval. | ||
Railpower RP20BD gensets built as RPRX lease units and RP20CD gensets built for
Union Pacific are the only known US applications of the K2H.
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K2H sound samples:None available at this time. | ||
Other K2 horns | ||
 | San Francisco Peninsula commuter railroad
Caltrain originally fitted its F40PH-2 locomotives with 5-chime K5LA horns.
The railroad moved the horns from the cab roof to a spot near the middle of the locomotive in the
late 1990's. In 2001, bowing to noise complaints from neighborhoods near the tracks, it replaced the
K5's with P2 horns as the primary horn. The railroad left the K5 manifold in
place on the locomotive roof, removed the 1, 4a, and 5 bells, and reversed the 2 and 3a bells to use
as a backup horn. These ersatz K2's were seldom heard until July 2009, when the bells were turned
forward once again and made the primary horn, replacing the P2's. The 2 and 3a bells play F# and G#,
a major 2nd interval and probably the least pleasing 2-note combination available from the five notes
that comprised the K5LA.
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"Caltrain K2" sound samples:Sample 1...386kB...24 secondsSample 2...97kB...6 seconds Sample 3...65kB...4 seconds Sample 4...371kB...24 seconds | ||