Sand Cast Airchime K5LA - One of a Kind

100% Sand Cast K5LA. I’ll start by saying that this is NOT an original horn. This horn originally started as an ex CN sand cast K3L. The previous owner then put the 1, 2, and 3 bells on a H manifold to start a K5H project. He was able to find a SC 5 bell to add to the horn, but used a die cast 4 bell until he could find a SC 4 bell. I then purchased the horn from him. Shortly after having the horn I found a 2 chime K horn on eBay listed as a “P2”. I noticed that both the 2 and 4 bell on this K2 were sand cast and I bought the horn. Turns out that the 4 bell was not a straight 4, but instead factory tuned to 4A specs. It was in rough shape so I sent to bell to Mr. Muha to be remachined. I’m not sure what the story is on the K2 or 4 bell. Friends told me that I should turn my K5H into a sand cast K5LA. I bought an extra SC 3 bell from a buddy so I’d still have the original 3 bell from the horn. I asked Mr. Muha if he could machine the new 3 bell to 3A specs, which he did for me. All together this horn is now a completely sand cast K5LA which sounds pretty awesome. Let me know what you think! Thanks to Mr. Muha for the help and to the friends who suggested putting this horn together.

[@superbaddy4]

This horn is nearly Tri-Rail quality. That's saying quite something. And Sand Cast over Raised Letter absolutely any day.

[@mitchgoldenberg7659]

We don't have anything close to that lol

[@superbaddy4]

Yeah. We would need Bob Swanson himself if we ever wanted the Tri-Rail K5LAs to ever be replicated.

[@flattrain5834]

This is not even close to tri rail. Not even close to coaster pre 2010. Truly one of a kind here.

[@superbaddy4]

What I meant was that the Tri-Rail (and GO Transit) K5LAs are better than all other K5LAs, but this Sand Cast is able to stand in a league with them.

[@AirchimeLTDproductions174]

For once I have to disagree with you on this one, respectfully that is. The Holden Doubletag K5LAs that the Tri-Rail Cabcars currently have are magnificent. Seeing as they are my 2nd favorite type of K5LAs. However my personal favorites are the Sandcast Corker Bigtags because their tuning is original, intended, and angelic. They're not harsh or sharp like the 80s and 90s era K5's, and finally they have that special mellow M5 quality to them that not really any of the Die cast K5LAs have.

[@CSX500]

If only K5LA's on the rails could sound like this. Gorgeous sounding K5LA!

[@EPWI92]

CSX500 agreed! Thanks

[@bigborek5la]

I’m going to go ahead and admit guilt to giving you half of the views on this video 😂😂

[@EPWI92]

BigboreK5LA . 😂 I’m equally guilty

[@EPWI92]

My favorite honk is at 38 seconds

[@AlexTrain5249]

Micro Precision, take notes on restarting Sand Cast horn construction.

[@EPWI92]

Alex Paumen totally

[@RailfanDaniel]

The 2 and 4A are slightly sharp, but many argue that K5LA's sound better this way. Amazing how well Airchime was able to tune sand cast bells back in the day, but MP today with modern technology can't even get the die cast bells tuned close.

[@EPWI92]

RailfanDaniel yes the sand cast K horns were pretty awesome

[@trainiax]

They aren't even sharp. I tried a frequency analysis and relative to each other the bells are all within 1 Hz of nominal tuning. I don't know that I've heard a better K5LA.

[@Hunter_Dawso]

This horn needs to be placed atop a Genesis ASAP!

[@EPWI92]

hunter dawso that would be awesome

[@cawalshx2]

Never been a big fan of Nathan K horns but this one is changin my mind. Awesome

[@EPWI92]

locomotive horn adict this one is pretty damn sweet sounding.

[@TracksideTyson]

Incredible horn for the collection, very odd that the sand cast 4 bell was tuned to 4A spec..very unusual. Cool project! it sure is an eerie K5LA now!

[@RobertValinsky]

That K5LA sounds beautiful!!

[@BNSFBishop]

That’s sounds hella awesome.

[@EPWI92]

BNSFBishop 👍🏻

[@gray19801]

The way a K5LA should sound and now get rid of solenoid valves as well.

[@EPWI92]

gray19801 This was blown on a graham white manual valve. I use both the graham white and 2 stage solenoid depending on which horn I run. This is with the manual valve. Thanks for the comment.

[@danielsebring6220]

Send this amazing thing to Amtrak. They need it on their 50th anniversary P42 repaint.

[@EPWI92]

Agreed

[@midwestmodelrailroadworkshop]

Amazing tone!! So happy I could help that project along!

[@EPWI92]

Blake K5LLA K5LA thanks Blake for the donor 3 bell!

[@taneguyrailfan2sittindorma385]

Awesome!!! It gives me some Chessie System vibes when they had their big bore K5LAs! 👍

[@EPWI92]

Thank you sir!

[@back2shoving]

Holy cow man this sounds amazing!!!

[@NickSilcox3]

Wow that is one hell of a horn you got! Incredible sound, nice work

[@EPWI92]

Nick Silcox thank you Sir Nicholas!

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Sounds wicked. Definitely a one of a kind. Imagine hearing one at 125mph on an AEM-7 blasting through Aberdeen MD.

[@cnhaltonsub]

Do all the bells have "Made In Canada" back caps? Horn sounds similar to the GO K5LAs on the old cab cars

[@coolleo149]

Now that’s what I call, a futuristic K5LA train horn! Like how you restored the horn to make it super better than the original ones!

[@rnrailproductions5049]

I believe the very first K5LAs in the 1970s were indeed Sandcast horns.

[@hakeemsd70m]

Wow, a Sand Cast K5LA? Fantastic build, I really enjoyed reading the story behind this horn. I gotta say the horn sounds gorgeous and in absolutely perfect tune, it just sings magnificently. Great video Elliot!

[@EPWI92]

Hakeem Sd70M thanks my friend

[@hakeemsd70m]

@@EPWI92 Anytime buddy, keep up the great work.

[@FanRailer]

Swanson would be proud!

[@EPWI92]

Fan Railer right on 🤘🏻

[@taneguyrailfan2sittindorma385]

Micro Precision should've made the K5LA sound like this instead of how it sounds now!

[@EPWI92]

Trainz12 /T:ANEGuyRailfan2 agreed

[@hakeemsd70m]

Agreed, the 2008-present Micro Precision K5LA sounds awful. This particular unique sand cast K5LA sounds gorgeous.

[@EFC429]

Horn sounds so awesome...this is basically porn lol

[@EPWI92]

EFC429 basically lol

[@nathanairchime9019]

Sounds incredible Elliot! awesome K5LA and excellent recordings.

[@EPWI92]

NathanAirchime thanks buddy!!

[@turbochargedtransit7241]

dayum! sounds fantastic!

[@EPWI92]

Turbocharged Rail Videos 👍🏻👍🏻

[@wwrr98]

How about a sand cast K5LLA using a 2 piece sand cast 1L? That would definitely be a one of a kind too

[@EPWI92]

Delaware Train Videos not a bad idea. I actually do have a 2pc 1L laying around.

[@wwrr98]

@@EPWI92 I myself have an 80s K5LA, as well as a 2 piece sand cast 1L. I actually just swapped it out this afternoon. Going to give it a test run sometime this weekend

[@EPWI92]

Delaware Train Videos nice let me know how it sounds!

[@ZillaJr2005]

That is a CRISP K5LA! Kinda reminds me of a F40PH.

[@jjgravy]

Beautiful! -JG

[@EPWI92]

jjgravy it really is 🙏🏻

[@jmream2618]

This horn would be perfect to have on a ambulance when people hear this they’ll pull over

[@jmream2618]

We need this horn on a SC-44 / ALC 42. Charger Locomotive

[@FDNY8231]

I love this horn ... Full bore she is AWESOME ... Wish we had that on our Fire Engine ....

[@EPWI92]

That would be cool 👍🏻

[@FDNY8231]

@@EPWI92 I just can't get enough of it ...

[@easternroutemainlinevideos6823]

wow!

[@EPWI92]

MassDotFan1062 Productions same

[@easternroutemainlinevideos6823]

@@EPWI92 its wicked

[@ishirotanaka]

If I wanted to make a K Horn that sounds just like an M5/Old Cast P5, Which Bell Numbers Should i use?

[@FanRailer]

All raised letter bells; 1L, 1, 2, 3A, 4. Ive done it. It’s the same chord structure as an OC P5, just a half step down from the actual OC P5 chord.

[@ishirotanaka]

@@FanRailer Do you have video of that? If not, Could you possibly do one?

[@FanRailer]

@@ishirotanaka kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHK1eZ-sYpaErrs

[@ishirotanaka]

@@FanRailer Thanks 👍

[@BroadwayLTDProductions]

Sounds like 90’s Amtrak!

[@loganschupp8245]

Would it would be possible to get a diecast K5LA to sound similar to this horn or is it the sand cast bells that make this one more melodic than the modern horns?

[@EPWI92]

The sand cast bells tend to be more mellow and sweet sounding but there are absolutely many, many great sounding die cast horns

[@flattrain5834]

Micro precision doesn’t make sand cast anymore?

[@EPWI92]

Flat Train they do not. K bells have been die cast for decades now.

[@flattrain5834]

What about p horns?

[@hakeemsd70m]

@@flattrain5834 Very good question, I've always wondered what cast material P horns were

[@flattrain5834]

P bells are sand cast. I wrote that comment a while back lol

[@hakeemsd70m]

@@flattrain5834 Whoops, my bad for missing your comment. Thanks for the info

[@AirchimeLTDproductions174]

A magnificent and angelically beautiful Sandcast K5LA, my favorite type of K5LA. The sand casts are the grand forerunners of all the K5LA family in my personal opinion they're not really at all harsh, they are rather mellow and very M5 like. The Diecast K5's do not really obtain this characteristic superharmonic. Swanson would be very happy to hear this lovely horn of 100% Sandcast origin. :)

[@qualityscalereviews2767]

Is the #2 bell bored on this thing?

[@EPWI92]

It is not. That was a consideration of mine but ended up deciding not to.

[@qualityscalereviews2767]

@@EPWI92 I’d get it bored and have a shim made. That way you can always revert back to this sound. I’d love to hear another true #2 bell instead of another ‘almost G’.

[@5capsfilms152]

What does bored mean

[@nicksfuntv1281]

Rails Unlimited

[@EMDFAN1988]

Incredible!

[@EPWI92]

EMD GeepThirtyEight agreed good buddy ✌🏻

[@ApproachAspect]

Sounds great. Thanks for sharing.

[@EPWI92]

Alex Wilson thanks for the comment!

[@ApproachAspect]

Elliot Pederson looking forward to more videos!

[@EPWI92]

Alex Wilson appreciate that! More coming soon!

[@ashemiles5715]

this ones in Rails Unlimited

[@Aaron20391]

What an amazing sound! Fantastic recordings!

[@EPWI92]

Thanks for the comment! 👍🏻

[@Aaron20391]

No problem. Is the 5 bell on this horn a large bore?

[@EPWI92]

Aaron Sturm yes sir

[@richiemyshrall1397]

This is the best sounding K5LA I ever heard!!! Nuttin like sand cast!! They don’t make em like this anymore that’s for sure….

[@tacomarailmultimedia1486]

GOD TIER!

[@keokukrailfan77]

Sounds great!

[@ncmainlineproductions9290]

That horn sounded spectacular at the 2:00 mark. Excellent job, here!

[@thealmightydoge5653]

This is pure ear heaven! Thanks for sharing.

[@jmream2618]

Sound like a Chessie system horn

[@youwillike]

I've got the same set.

[@510trackside5]

No, you don’t

[@sigmamealsskibidislicers56710]

No, you don't

[@graphtonix6607]

Is this K5LA horn from EX Amtrak F40PHR unit 396???

[@510trackside5]

Nope, it’s off BNSF ES44DC 7716

[@graphtonix6607]

@@510trackside5 OK. How can I find the original K5LA horn from EX Amtrak F40PHR unit 396???

[@epa_42a]

​@@graphtonix6607how are you this desperate for a goddamn horn-

[@repeatman]

Sounds amazing!

[@EPWI92]

repeatman 👍🏻

[@xxxman360]

An American tuned horn using only bells made in Canada! I love the sound!