Airchime K5H | |
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The picture illustrates a common arrangement of the horn bells, with the #2 and #4
bells reversed. In this configuration, the horn is designated a K5HR24. The "H" indicates the use of a
high-profile manifold. The manifold places three horn bells over two, making the horn look
somewhat top-heavy compared to the two-over-three configuration used on the M5
and P5. The K5H horn bells can also be mounted on a low-profile "L" manifold
to give a K5L (see the K5LA for a picture of an "L" manifold). The sound is the
same. | |
 | Side view of the K5HR24. |
 | Front and rear views of an all-bells-forward K5H, courtesy Brent Lee. The K-series horns were introduced in 1954 as low-maintenance alternatives to the M-series, with a somewhat more pleasant tone than the brassy P-series. The K's were sold exclusively in Canada until the mid-1970's, when the K5's chord was modified to produce the K5LA for Amtrak. The optional "L" manifold was introduced at the same time, and horns with the older, high-profile manifold were redesignated K5H. |
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The K5H and K5L are used primarily by BC Rail in Canada. They were
extremely rare on American railroads until the mid-1980's, when railroads such as CSX, Norfolk
Southern, Southern Pacific, Chicago & North Western, and New York Susquehanna & Western
received the K5H on a few orders of GE locomotives. The horns on the SP and CNW GE's
have largely been replaced with three-chime horns. A few K5L horns have shown up on Amtrak
locomotives.
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Original factory tuning was: D# minor 6th (D#,F#,A#,C,D#). | |
Although the K5H and K5L are not common today on US railroads, they are still
in common use in Canada and can still be purchased from Airchime.
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K5H and K5L sound samples:CSX Dash 8-40C and Dash 8-40CW:Sample 1...157kB...7 seconds Sample 2...291kB...13 seconds Sample 3...606kB...28 seconds Norfolk Southern Dash 8-32B: Sample 1...655kB...30 seconds Sample 2...560kB...26 seconds Southern Pacific, various locomotives: Sample 1...401kB...18 seconds Sample 2...473kB...21 seconds When bad things happen to good horns:K5H with one bell squealing:Sample 1...205kB...9 seconds | |