Western Railroad Discussion > The Return of the Nathan P3 Horns

Just watched a southbound oil train on the UP Ayer Sub (Washy) led by a old CP AC4400. It had the distinctive sounding P3 replacement horn on it. To me, when I heard a P3 horn,it would mean some older power was leading a train like a SD40-2. I would quickly go to the window hoping to see the consist, hoping for a good lashup of older power. But over the past year, CP, UP and BNSF have been putting P3 replacement horns on their locomotives instead of the deeper K series horns. So I've been rather disappointed upon hearing a P3 horn, to only see a older GE unit wearing it. Photo below is from this past Tuesday showing a CP Gevo with a P3 Horn while the trailing UP unit still has it's K3 Horn.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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Nice shot Ted! To me, that unit would sound like an SP unit with the Nathan P3 horn.

Larry



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/18 15:42 by Ritzville.

Always loved to see a SOO SD60/60M leading some train so I could hear its beautiful P3 horn... In a world dominated by K5 variants, it's always nice to hear something different these days...

I've noticed a few CP GEs got P3s off SOO units over the years, but not sure if it's one of those or not in this case.

Somebody got a video (with sound) so I can hear that wonderful melody again???

I'm surprised a P3 meets the current volume requirements.

dash944cw Wrote:
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> Somebody got a video (with sound) so I can hear
> that wonderful melody again???


https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4416840,4416840#4416840

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

dash944cw Wrote:
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> Somebody got a video (with sound) so I can hear
> that wonderful melody again???


Wonderful melody????? Sounds like the mating call of a whale.

That was an awful P3 to use as an example.

Search "Nathan Airchime P3 Recordings. New Cast" on YouTube for a properly functioning example of a P3 (The new cast version. Old cast sounds better but production of those stopped in the late 70's).

Sorry, but if an air horn or a steam whistle doesn't start at your toes and try to pick you up out of your shoes, I'm not much interested.

Although the P3's have a tendency to "speak" erratically, (not all bells honk at the same time), for SP fans, the sound of a P3 can instantly call to mind a vision of the approach or passing of a Tunnel Motor, SD45 or other prominent P3 equipped engine.

I'll take a squeaky P3 over a loud ass K5LLA any day. 

Fantastic shot!

Ronda Thomas

Any P3 on a SP motor is music to the ears now a days. EMD tunnel motors under full load with a P3 blowing for a crossing—— I’d give up a easy trip on a ES44AC for that. Almost a religious experience!

Posted from iPhone

Nice picture. P3's and P5's are the best sounding horns in railroading.

SantaFeRuss

How bout this for a P3.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1413968,1413968#msg-1413968

SP 8577 climbing the Altamont in 2007. I believe that was the last time I had an unpatched SP unit on the point, and it had the P3 to boot. Too bad it was dark the whole way, but the wonderful sounds of that P3 and some EMD 645s in run 8 more than made up for the lack of light.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/18 19:36 by ble692.

Nice pic!!