Uploaded January 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
One of the rarest locomotive horns in North America was the Leslie SL4T and S4T. A four chime horn that used Leslie bells 31, 37, 48, and 55, it was essentially an S3K with a 55 bell added. The SL4T used a special low profile manifold, the S4T was split between a pair of two chime manifolds. Regardless of the manifold the sound was the same. These were developed for and placed on Amtrak SDP40F's, and these troublesome locomotives ended up being the downfall of the S4T/SL4T. Amtrak used the Nathan P5A on the first order of F40PH's, and later adopted the K5LA, which was also developed specificity for Amtrak.
While the original horns are very rare, as are the low manifolds, the parts needed to make one are quite common. Thus I started with a broken 5 chime manifold and got a set of bells and S chambers. Add in a proper set of dowel pins and get all parts paint stripped.
Here is what I started out with. youtu.be/hEEUAiqxBag
One of the rarest locomotive horns in North America was the Leslie SL4T and S4T. A four chime horn that used Leslie bells 31, 37, 48, and 55, it was essentially an S3K with a 55 bell added. The SL4T used a special low profile manifold, the S4T was split between a pair of two chime manifolds. Regardless of the manifold the sound was the same. These were developed for and placed on Amtrak SDP40F's, and these troublesome locomotives ended up being the downfall of the S4T/SL4T. Amtrak used the Nathan P5A on the first order of F40PH's, and later adopted the K5LA, which was also developed specificity for Amtrak.
While the original horns are very rare, as are the low manifolds, the parts needed to make one are quite common. Thus I started with a broken 5 chime manifold and got a set of bells and S chambers. Add in a proper set of dowel pins and get all parts paint stripped.
Here is what I started out with. youtu.be/hEEUAiqxBag
