I created this page after the three SLR recordings I made between June 21 and early September 2003 all had elaborate horn greetings from the engineer--more than just a beep-beep.  Whether or not this was because the train crews noticed my tape recorder, they seem to enjoy seeing railfans, and the results are funny and make for interesting recording variations.  These are taken from the main recording pages.

All recordings are 22050 Hz unless otherwise noted.

Recorded June 06, 2005, 1 minute 3 seconds
Re-transferred October 29, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 429 KB
44,100 Hz, 2,712 KB

Talk about whining!  Seven locomotives--RM-1 805, GP40M-3 3805, RM-1 804, GP40M-3 3804, RM-1 806, GP40M-3 3806 and GP40 3206--hold back the 121 cars of a late-running Westbound 393 freight easing down the grade from Waterville, QC.  I'm not sure whether all the units were in dynamic brake mode, but I can safely say that GP40 3206 was!  In fact, 3206 in particular is the source of the peculiar fluctuating whining sound, caused by the dynamic brake fan spinning like there's no tomorrow while increasing and decreasing in speed.  The other locomotives produced a more subtle fan whine at a constant pitch.

Added bonus: the engineer greeted me with the horn.

Recorded February 2001, 34 seconds
Re-transferred October 29, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 232 KB
44,100 Hz, 1,461 KB

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 21, 2003, 1 minute 7 seconds
Re-transferred October 29, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 454 KB
44,100 Hz, 2,867 KB

This was the first of many trains seen during the summer of 2003 (several were recorded) where the engineer had fun with the horn, seeing me taking pictures.  This train had run-8 SLR GP40s 3002, 3002 and 3208 speeding along a 64-car Eastbound freight South of Lennoxville, QC.  The whistle blasts at the beginning of the recording were for a private crossing before Courval road, North of Waterville, QC.

Recorded September 05, 2003, 1 minute 7 seconds
Re-transferred October 29, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 457 KB
44,100 Hz, 2,889 KB

A recording in the SLR GP11s section of a spectacular train recorded in September 2000 was the slowest run-8 freight featured on this site... until this one was recorded.  An estimated 18 mph (29 km/h) continuous speed brings this under the 20 mph of that train.  This is the sound of SLR GP40s 3206, 3211 and 3203, roaring and whining their way slowly up the hill into Waterville, QC, with 70 cars behind them and heat waves overhead.  I had never realised that there was such a grade just before the main crossing in Waterville; after the last cars passed the train's speed had increased to well above 25 mph (40 km/h).  Icing on the cake was a series of horn-blast greetings from the engineer.  (SLR's slug sets have slogged up this grade much more slowly)

Recorded July 13, 2003, 42 seconds
Re-transferred October 29, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 290 KB
44,100 Hz, 1,830 KB

A veritable concert!  After a two-week absence, I was greeted with a series of horn blasts when I went to see the first train upon returning.  Evidently SLR crews are railfan-friendly.  The train had GP40s 3208 and 3211 and LLPX GP38 2260 easing along 63 cars.

Recorded January 12, 2004, 53 seconds
Re-transferred October 29, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 364 KB
44,100 Hz, 2,297 KB

An enthusiastic greeting from the crew of SLR train 394 made for an upbeat beginning of 2004 SLR trainspotting.  This sounded like an attempt at "Jingle bells", but the train arrived at the crossing so the engineer finished in a series of short whistle blasts, then one of the crew yelled "Hello!" out the window!  GP40 3208, GP38-2 2260 and GP40s 3207 and 3203 have the 54-car freight well under control as they ease it towards Waterville, Quebec.

Short but sweet.  As 3804, 804, 3806 and GP40 3001 exit Waterville, QC, with train 394, the engineer blows a horn greeting, seeing me taking pictures.  The relatively short freight was an easy pull for the mid-throttle engines.

Recorded February 06, 2004, 59 seconds
Re-transferred October 07, 2006
22,050 Hz compressed, 401 KB
44,100 Hz, 2,531 KB

Another horn greeting from an SLR engineer.  This train had GP40M-3 3806 leading RM-1s 804 and 805 and GP40M-3 3803.  The lead unit was at one point SLR GP40X 3209, and still has the Nathan P5 of former owner Norfolk Southern.  However, perhaps due to snow, bells 1 and 5 were silent, resulting in a sound that was actually more pleasant than that of the five fully functional chimes.  The two units maintained a decent speed (over 20 mph) with 57 cars on train 394.  The run-8 645 engines could be heard long before and long after the train had passed.