Eight rebuilt, yellow-painted GP38-2s-- 2235, 2238, 2246, 2247, 2248, 2249, 2252 and 2256-- arrived on the St. Lawrence & Atlantic in March 2001.  They were used on trains 393 and 394 as replacements for the aging M420Ws, along with the familiar black and gray sisters 2231 and 2232.  They have since been replaced by huskier rebuilt GP40s leased, as well, from LLPX, and are now mostly in storage.  Though not as fuel-efficient (relative to power output) as the turbocharged GP40s, supercharged GP38-2s are common on many railroads and are often favourites of locomotive crews for their ease of maintenance and reliability, and among railfans for the 16-cylinder engine sounds and well-proportioned looks.  Most recordings are from near Waterville, QC.

Recorded November 23, 2000, 46 seconds
Re-transferred September 27, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 314 KB
44,100 Hz, 1,978 KB

Now I know how spark arrestors got their name.  This train, led by LLPX GP38-2 #2231, had a GP11 as its fifth and final engine, behind 2232 and two whistling CN M420Ws, and it sent the occasional spark up one of its four stacks.  There's the lovely sound of supercharged 16-cylinder engines as well as a very pronounced Doppler from the whistle, with the train going some 40 mph (65 km/h).  The horns on 2231 and 2232 are real curiosities, being Nathan M-series horns of a design dating from the late 40s.  Few, if any, have been purchased since the 70s or 80s when these engines were built.  This train was eastbound towards Waterville, QC.

Although not running, I sure regretted not having a camera to take a picture of the engines following GP38-2 2231 and M420W 3519.  Needless to say, I've since had many more opportunities to photograph these units, but it was at this time that I first saw the "new" LLPX GP38-2s.  Three were trailing the first two engines on this train-- what a surprise to see engines in UP armor yellow on the  St. Lawrence & Atlantic!  To add some interest to the recording, then engineer went from low throttle to full as he inched past the crossing, and made the horn sound like a chattering cat.  I wouldn't want to have been the conductor-- he was standing right on the front platform as the M3 blew, which was very loud even from my viewpoint.

 
Recorded June 2000, 24 seconds
11,025 Hz compressed, 94 KB

Leased power un run 5, June 2000.  The beep-beep after the engines had passed was the first such greeting I got from an SLR engineer, and has now become commonplace.  The horn is a low-pitched M3R2 with a very quiet top note.

This late-afternoon train had mid-train helpers!!!  Most likely, it was the result of sticking together the two eastbound freights of the day. 

On the point were two Geeps-- leased LLPX GP38-2 2232 and GP11 8749.   And yes, I did jump when the engineer blasted the horn as the engines passed (creating a nice Doppler) as well as at the beep-beep beforehand.  After the 50th car or so came four more Geeps--GP40s 3702, 3733 and 3000, and LLPX GP38-2 #2231.  I was so surprised to suddenly see this that I snapped a picture or two (see section of SLR photo archive) but unfortunately didn't record the four helpers.

LLPX GP38-2 2232, SLR GP11 8749, LLPX GP38-2 2231 and SLR GP40 3733 are at the head end of this freight, headed East towards Waterville, QC, with Train 394.  I would have included more of the wonderful chorus of run-8 EMD engines (three of them supercharged) had the recording not been lost 10 seconds after the last horn blast.

Recorded March 2001, 11 seconds
22,050 Hz compressed, 79 KB

Nathan K5LAs, when in tune, produce one of the nicest sounds of all horns, as demonstrated by 2235.  The recording isn't much more than a sample, but it's one of my best K5LA examples.

The sound of four run-8 GP38-2s is as pleasing as the afternoon sun shining on their sides.  The sounds of run-8 EMD engines echo as LLPX GP38-2's 2235, 2246, 2248 and 2247 approach with a long eastbound freight.  Equally loud is the K5LA of 2235, among the best horns of the leased GP38-2s.

Two days later, same loco consist.  Similar to the earlier recording of 2246 below, this one has the same approaching engine sounds created from being a fair distance from any crossing.  But that distance wasn't enough--a good photo was ruined when I pressed the shutter the same time as the horn blasted suddenly in its first crossing whistle, and there was, needless to say, a blur from me being startled at a sudden 100-decibal-plus noise!  We're talking loud here. (A friend of mine calls K5LAs "blasty", and this recording demonstrates why.)

Recorded September 08, 2001, 38 seconds
Re-transferred September 27, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 258 KB
44,100 Hz, 1,633 KB
 

The K5LA on 2235 may seem a bit high during the first three whistles... until the GP38-2 roars by with sister 2238, an SLR GP40 and two more GP38-2s, where the horn drops to below standard tuning from the Doppler!  The train was going fast enough (35 mph) that the engines had passed in a matter of a few seconds, their roars not much more than a blur, then the cars raced past.  Worth mention are first cars (Centerbeam flats) with an overall length the same as two rail-lengths, which creates a strangely repetitive clicking sound from the rail joints.

Recorded May 2001, 55 seconds
Re-transferred October 29, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 373 KB

GP38-2 2238 leads three more identical units on Train 394 on a pleasant May afternoon.  This unit has arguably the best horn of any of the leased GP38-2's.  The birds in this recording, notably goldfinches, seem to be competing with the engines.

Another example of the pleasant K5LA horn on 2238.  This recording was made in the twilight of the GP38-2 era--already, there were GP40's mixed in with this locomotive consist (with their deeper engine sounds).  Within only a few months, the GP38-2's would be sent elsewhere and replaced by GP40's, victims of expensive leasing costs.

This recording was added January 05, 2006.

Recorded April 2001, 59 seconds
Re-transferred September 27, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 402 KB
44,100 Hz, 2,537 KB

A typical sight during April 2001 on trains 393 and 394.  Leading this train are 2246, 2248, 2247 and 2235.  2246 sports a Nathan K5LA that's missing the lowest and highest chimes, though the remaining chimes still put out a very loud noise.  As can be seen in the photo, there was still knee-deep snow... in the second week of April 2001!   As is typical with the GP38-2s, engine sounds are pleasant.

Recorded April 15, 2001, 1 minute 10 seconds
Re-transferred September 27, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 478 KB
44,100 Hz, 3,020 KB

Here's the same four-unit set, in run 8 for most of the recording.  I had received a request for recordings taking away from a crossing, so the sound of the EMDs' engines could be emphasized without being disturbed by whistles and bells, and this is the very pleasing result.  Only the first whistle can be heard, after the engines had gone by; the rest were drowned out by the freight cars and thus not included.

Recorded May 2001, 44 seconds
Re-transferred September 27, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 299 KB
44,100 Hz, 1,888 KB

In early May 2001, another string of four full-throttle GP38-2s led by 2246 move along with train 394.

Recorded July 2001, 1 minute 8 seconds
Re-transferred September 27, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 465 KB
44,100 Hz, 2,935 KB

Next up after 2235 and 2238 for well-tuned K5LA horns on the ten GP38-2s is the one on 2247, which has a manual air valve (hence the softer starts).  The Geep was in front of GP11 8749, with its characteristic chugging, and three more GP38-2s pulling a long freight on a glorious summer afternoon.  Quite a show!  30 seconds in the beginning of the recording are devoted solely to the EMD engine sounds.

Recorded August 22, 2001, 52 seconds
Re-transferred September 27, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 355 KB
44,100 Hz, 2,241 KB

This was one of the most impressive trains I've seen in 2001.  Everything about it was right-- 2248 with its lovely Nathan K5L horn, combined with four more units (the chugging SLR GP11 and three more "armor yellow" LLPX units) in run 8 dragging a very long freight uphill.  There was a sixth engine, a black/gray LLPX unit, but it wasn't running-- if it was, it would have lessened the show of the five others by increasing the speed.  All of the 393/394 trains are now powered by four or five locomotives, more recently leased GP40s.  Note the two cars that crossed after the first whistle.

This horn has a character of its own.  The lowest chime is extremely emphasized (a bit more so in the recording than in reality) but all are pretty much in tune.  The result is a unique, somewhat pleasing sound.  From a distance it sounds like any other K5LA.

Recorded June 2001, 28 seconds
22,050 Hz compressed, 191 KB

2252's horn is also odd, with the #4 chime a note higher than usual, as well as the #3 chime being a tad too high.  The result is a mix-match sound without any exact chord.  (Standard tuning of the K5LA is D#, F#, G#, B, D#.  This engine has a C instead of B.  Compare with 2235.)  The horn may have a mix of K5LA and K5L chimes, or it might be an out-of-tune K5L.

Recorded March 21, 2001, 1 minute 3 seconds
Re-transferred September 27, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 432 KB
44,100 Hz, 2,798 KB

This is what's called a run-8 start.  Four GP38-2s (new then, now replaced by GP40s) were leading train 394 on the night of March 21 2001.  While at home, I noticed the crossing lights were flashing, but the only sound was of engines idling.  Once at the tracks, I discovered a quartet of LLPX GP38-2s led by 2256.  No lights were on, but I decided to wait anyway.  After a while, the engineer turned the lights on, revved up, then went back to idle and turned the lights off again.  There was some movement in the cab, though, and after a few minutes, on came the lights and bell (and recorder) and the train accelerated at a brisk pace, flanges squealing in protest as the four Geeps let loose 8000 horsepower.  The throttle went almost straight up to full.