Nathan P horns - P5 vs P5A

A comparison of new cast 5 chime Nathan P horns, one a P5, the other a P5A, as well as the bells that make up the difference.
In 1976, the P4A bell was derived from the P4 bell by shortening it. While the P5A was originally used by Amtrak, on their first orders of F40PH's, by far the biggest users of P5A's have been Metra and Southern Railway (later NS).

[@CentralPennRailProductions]

Great video! I am making a P5 compilation video right now. There are a few NS locomotives that have P5A's, but not many that I can think of.

[@ryancrummy2320]

Imagine having this dude as a neighbor

[@mafarnz]

There is a reason I filmed this in the middle of nowhere.

[@jackboerner1901]

@@mafarnz I can say wouldn’t mind it much.

[@mafarnz]

For the full horn, both times I am using a 7 gallon tank pumped to 120 PSI. P horns use very little air and still sound awesome!

[@angelmalarkey7946]

I know some of the Norfolk Southern trains have one of those new cast P5A horns, but I know most of the NS and CN have the new cast P5 new cast.

[@dendroicazenaida]

I like both of them. The P5A sounds like home being from the Chicagoland area, but I'll say that both of these are better than a P01235.

[@Ferrocarril_Chicago]

Nice. I wish I had some train horns. The P5A sure sounds like the Metra. I thought Metra used regular P5s, not P5As. But that looks like fun.

[@JAILRail]

i had no clue. The only time I ever saw a metra in real life was late at night in my hotel room in Chicago. :P

[@Ferrocarril_Chicago]

You've never gotten a good look at Metra?

[@JAILRail]

Well it was all glowy and everything... it was 10:00 PM. Ever heard of the L- Trains?

[@Ferrocarril_Chicago]

Yes, I see the CTA El-Trains very often.

[@JAILRail]

Not too intresting.

[@mafarnz]

No way man, the old cast P01235 is the bomb!

[@equinebrit]

mafarnz here in belton the old p5 on PICK 9508 GE U18B is awsome you should look it up!

[@GoldenRailsMedia]

your P5's work alot better with that 7 gallon 120 psi setup than my K3 does with 10 gallons and 110 psi!

[@IRJustman]

One of the cab cars as used by CalTrans on either the Capitol Corridor or the San Joaquins use the new-cast P5 with a manifold as shown in the video. Otherwise, they use K5LA horns.

[@tankman_tv9332]

The car number is CDTX 8306, and might be the only existing amtrak equipment on the roster to have a p5

[@shreddermanp2]

You can tell the Difference between these 2 P5 horns

[@mafarnz]

@moonwalker5058 A# is a B flat. B natural is 1/2 step above A #/B flat.

[@mafarnz]

@Alwaystrains Thanks, I love both.

[@Silentroller93]

That new cast p5 sounds great

[@mafarnz]

+Sean Lynn They are all new cast in this video.

[@mafarnz]

Both of these are new cast.

[@bkriegel95]

They also sound like the ones that are put on SD40-2s and other EMD locomotives!

[@mafarnz]

Some SD40-2 have ended up with P5's, a lot of ICE/DM&E 40-2's have P5's. The P5A has occasionally shown up on SOU/NS units but mostly it was used on passenger locomotives.

[@randyjames9217]

Illinois central used old cast p5's on their e units

[@mafarnz]

IC continued to use the P5 until the end of the IC, their SD70's had P5's on them.

[@Pokemonmaster150b]

Ehlers to Scheifele to Wheeler! HE SCOOOOOOORES! JETS GOAL!

[@Belleville197]

Hello Monsieur Mafarnz !! How about a video comparing P5 SINGLE diaphragm set up vs. DOUBLE diaphragm set up ? Please and thank you !!

[@mafarnz]

120, same as the whole horn, though the individual bells will work on a lot less than that.

[@mafarnz]

NS high hood units often have P5's, usually new cast, though the P5A isn't that common on NS.

[@TwoWeekCowboy]

CN is beginning to use more p5s.

[@mafarnz]

No, K bells are wider at the base then P bells.

[@Rhys4AUFC]

Good, but nothing beats a Leslie...

[@mafarnz]

I agree, see my other videos, out of the 22 horns I own most are Leslie's.

[@Alwaystrains]

Awesome Horns!

[@CranieBoy]

They sound like an NS high hood p5 horns.

[@fnm9908]

very nice...and very explicit..thanks for the info

[@scottjrowe]

That's sounds great .I bought p4a from Tommy can't wait to mount it in no my nc p5

[@railfanxjofficial]

2:17 ro scale f40ph horn

[@AS768]

Nice! Would a P bell fit on a K manifold?

[@shreddermanp2]

That's What Was Wondering That Would You Mix A P & K Horn Together Like For Example Metrolink Had Used P2's & K5LA's Horns In The Same Time

[@flattrain5834]

If I buy a p5, and I want to take away the #5 and #3 bells to make a p3, do I need something to block the air from going out the inlets where the #5 and #3 bell would go?

[@mafarnz]

Yes. They are called blanker plates. They are very common, as the P3 and P5 use the same manifold.

[@flattrain5834]

Thank you! Do you know where I can get a couple?

[@mafarnz]

Not currently. Check eBay they show up often, around $30-$50

[@flattrain5834]

Thank you!

[@billyvazquez4567]

Do you know how to make a p5a horn that's is mixed cast that plays D,F,G,A#, and a C, because I have seen some Amtrak videos that have their p5a that sound like that.if so can you do one please?

[@mafarnz]

That would be new cast 1, 2, 5, old cast 3, and a 4A.

[@billyvazquez4567]

Yup.

[@GoldenRailsMedia]

ive been using 1/4 valve to 1/2 inch line that runs to the horn and it sounds ok its just not... very loud and punchy. i'm going to a air hose place today to get new air lines. My RS3L doesnt even work, just air blows through it and I don't know whats wrong with that.

[@thevirginianrailfan7715]

The P5 is the best in my opinion

[@metraman0102]

on the first one i could hear the begining of a p5 :D

[@Dan-lf6bo]

Very nice. Now see if you can find the rarest of the rare, a P01235. Good luck on that one.

[@mafarnz]

I have one, built from parts, but I have one. I also made a couple of videos where I took a standard P5 and added a 0 bell.

[@Dan-lf6bo]

Do you have any videos on them?

[@mafarnz]

Official Zombiekid2001 kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6vGoqyHjr-SfJo and kzbin.info/www/bejne/a57JpqFvqZhkmac

[@GoldenRailsMedia]

Do you think the 3/8 inch air line with the 1/2 ball valve running to the horn with a few 1/2 inch fittings will choke the horn too much?

[@pennsy6000]

i love the new cast better!

[@dendroicazenaida]

O.K., I think the P01235 is good, I just ment I prefer ones like in this video.

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

How do you not go deaf from not wearing ear plugs?

[@mafarnz]

I do wear ear plugs.

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

@@mafarnz oh ok lol. I only ever do while woroomg around the GE Center Cabs.

[@moonwalker5058]

A# is similar to a B natural, right?

[@AdamV1313]

awesome!

[@midwestmodelrailroadworkshop]

I'm trying to figure out where to get some hard to find Nathan P horn parts and talk to some people who are well known in the horn community. Any Help or suggestions?

[@pwalpar]

good video

[@tylorlangley2980]

Do you have the gentleman’s contact number that sold you just trumpet

[@mafarnz]

@CoastStarlight11 He he he, keeps gettign bigger too! :D

[@mafarnz]

Its not getting enough air, the 1/4" is too restrictive. Find a 1/2" port on your air tank, hook up all 1/2" hoses and valves and you'll be in business.

[@Rainbowdangerdashy]

Do you know what horns are on new BNSF ES44AC's and SD70ACe's?

[@mafarnz]

Since 2004, new GE units (ES44AC, ES44DC, the BNSFC4''s, ect) have used the Nathan K5HL. Also since 2004 new EMD units (SD70ACe;s and the like) have used the Nathan K5LLA.

[@rnrailproductions5049]

Reminds me of older Amtrak!

[@mafarnz]

+RBMN Fan5049 the first order of F40PH's did come with P5A's. Most of them were old cast, but the last few were new cast.

[@rnrailproductions5049]

R&N 3050 has a P5A but can't tell if it's Old Cast or New.

[@mafarnz]

+RBMN Fan5049 it's an old cast, and a very nice one at that!

[@rnrailproductions5049]

mafarnz 3050 sure does and the R&N actually rebuilds and takes care of their horns more than any railroad from I know of, they even give locomotive a horn check after so many days. I still need to learn P and Leslie supertyphon bell numbers and bell nots, I got the K and M bells down mostly though.

[@mafarnz]

What size airlines and valve? 1/4" is too small.

[@notoriousfilms7798]

mafarnz what about 3/8?

[@HybridBell]

NOTORIOUS FILMS 3/8” I.D will work fine for Nathan P horns as they are extremely efficient and sensitive horns and do not need a large amount of air to get going. I have tried a P5 with 3/8. It will work fine from 50 - 120psi. Ensure it is 3/8 all the way from the air reservoir to the horn, with no restricting fittings. Nathan K, M, and Leslie horns will require at least 1/2 I.D. They consume more air to operate properly.

[@WARD5KUSTOMZ]

does Tommy have anymore bells for sale? been a while since I talked to him. lost his number

[@mafarnz]

+WARD5KUSTOMZ I'm sure he does, he always seems to have stuff.

[@Creeperboy099]

is the new cast P5 the same horn I usually hear on most SD40s?

[@mafarnz]

A horn is just like any other part, not specific to any one locomotive. There are hundreds of 40's and 40-2's still working, and almost that many different horns used on them. What railroad are you asking about?

[@Creeperboy099]

mafarnz CSX (I live nearby a branch)

[@mafarnz]

CSX mostly uses K5LAs but may have a few P5’s.

[@TheDoubleWLife]

I love p4a

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

There is no such thing as a new cast 4 bell. That is the only bell that stayed the same it's entire life.

[@mafarnz]

Yes there is, if it says Pat Pend, then it’s a new cast bell. The Pat Pending and Pat Pend #4 bells sound the same but there are other visual differences between them. The 0 bell also never changed old cast to new cast.

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

mafarnz huh, okay.

[@andrewbnsf]

How much air are you using in this video?

[@joelweidenfeld471]

Big difference..sounds more than a half step

[@RailfanDaniel1997]

Is the P4A bell still in production?

[@mafarnz]

As far as I know, yes. It also still says Pat Pending.

[@RailfanDaniel1997]

I love the sound of New Cast P5A's. I wish Amtrak still used them! What would you think of Amtrak using one of these bad boys?

[@mafarnz]

CSX Foamer Productions I think it would be great, but I also thing Amtrak would have lots of problems with people not being able to hear trains at grade crossings. Amtrak got rid of the last of their P horns (some P5A's and a 0 bell P5) a few years ago because they had several P5's fail the FRA decibel test.

[@RailfanDaniel1997]

Well, that was the old cast and mixed cast ones. The new cast ones don't fail as easily, do they? And also, do they work well on solenoid valves?

[@mafarnz]

CSX Foamer Productions New cast or old cast doesn't matter, a P horn can only get so loud. ANY horn can be used on a solenoid valve, but it can cause some horns like Leslies to wear out faster. P horns it wouldn't make a difference as long as the air supply is clean and dry.

[@midwestmodelrailroadworkshop]

Was your p5 at this time a single or double diaphragm set up?

[@mafarnz]

All my P horns are single diaphragm except the 0 bell.

[@midwestmodelrailroadworkshop]

@@mafarnz ok thanks! Do you know where I could locate a 0bell? I've been looking for a long time now and no luck.

[@mafarnz]

Someone selling one. The 0 bells are no longer made.

[@bnsfbandit9807]

Do they still make P5's?

[@mafarnz]

Yes

[@46knine]

Norfolk Southern

[@mafarnz]

+Kevin Leach NS does have some P5A's, and a lot of P5's.

[@8989theman]

Where did you get the stand.

[@mafarnz]

I built it out of an old table.

[@8989theman]

Ok

[@RailsOfTheSouth]

How are you not completely deaf

[@mafarnz]

It’s called earplugs

[@RailsOfTheSouth]

@@mafarnz I knew that, I was just saying. I would be a little more behind it

[@mafarnz]

My limited air setup at this time necessitated that I be extremely close. That was one of the reasons I upgraded my air setup was to put more distance between me and the horn.

[@RailsOfTheSouth]

@@mafarnz OK sorry

[@christopher-2000]

in australia the locomotive use these horn

[@do-it-alllegacytm4548]

The P5A is totally better