Train Horns! Part 1 - Leslie RS3L

In this video series, we'll listen to different types of air horns used on North American locomotives at railroad crossings.

Part 1 features the popular Leslie 3-chime horn, the RS3L, which was once one of the most common horns on railroads throughout the United States. It is very popular among railfans for it's smooth, lower pitched sounds.

If you like train horns, please check out my playlist here:
   • Awesome Train Horns  

More information about the Leslie RS3L can be found below the video timeline:
0:00 - NS 8302 RS3L - 6/04/15
0:35 - NS 6704 RS3L - 8/20/15
1:15 - NS 5304 RS3L - 10/19/15
1:43 - NS 8300 RS3L - 10/21/15
2:15 - NS 1701 RS3L - 10/22/15
2:45 - NS 8314 RS3L - 1/27/16
3:20 - NS 5303 RS3L - 2/11/16
3:55 - NS 6706 RS3L - 2/21/16
4:25 - NS 8303 RS3L - 3/30/16
4:55 - NS 8321 RS3L - 5/03/15
5:35 - NS 5354 RS3L - 4/22/16
6:05 - NS 1703 S3L - 8/07/16 (original 1972 EL horn and placement)
6:40 - NS 3038 RS3L - 6/19/17
7:30 - NS 6733 RS3L - 7/01/17
8:10 - NS 6710 RS3L - 4/29/18
8:40 - NS 3413 RS3L - 6/04/18
9:22 - NS 3029 RS3L - 8/17/18 (used to have P3)
10:30 - NS 6707 RS3L - 12/08/18 (fouled)
11:10 - NS 2104 RS25 - 8/24/18 - (single chime)
11:50 - GMTX 2801 Prime-920 - 9/24/15

As a bonus, I threw in a single chime and Prime-920 at the end of the video, since neither of these horns are common enough to include in their own video. Prime horns were basically a copy in the Leslie design, but different manufacturer.

The Leslie S3L and the 5-chime S5T have been around since the mid-1950's. In 1977, the new "RS" spiked-back power chambers improved upon the original round, dome-back design, thus giving the name RS3L or RS5T. The RS3L uses the #25, #31 and #44 bells. These numbers are synonymous with the tuning: 255, 311, and 440 Hz. Most of the horns in this video are 1980's Conrail era, but one original early 70's S3L is included.

Today, Leslie horn numbers are dwindling on Class I railroads, but most of the surviving ex-Conrail locomotives on Norfolk Southern still have these horns. They are very rare on BNSF and Union Pacific but some ex-Santa Fe and ex-CNW units still wear them. Canadian National inherited a number of RS3L's on some of the ex-ATSF Dash-8's they bought from BNSF back in 2011. RS3L's are almost extinct on CSX, as the railroad had a horn program to equip it's entire locomotive fleet with K5LA's in the early 2000's. RS3L's are still common on short line and regional railroads.

This video also serves a dual purpose: with most of the former Conrail locomotives on NS and CSX being sold or retired, this gives a look back at the roster inherited by Conrail. All locomotives in this video are ex-Conrail, with footage shot between 2015-2018.

Central Penn Rail Productions 2019

Thanks for watching!