Recording Search Results

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Lead Locomotive	Recording	Photo	Information
CMQ 2007 EMD GP20D	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:19		Date: 2014-10-14 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: CMQ Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
With new ownership of the former MMA line comes new motive power, including a group of EMD GP20D's. Only 40 such units were built, all in June 2000. CEFX GP20D 2007 demonstrates the unique sound of the Caterpillar prime mover as it passes under the Belvedere St. overpass while switching cars in Shebrooke, QC.
CMQ 2007 EMD GP20D	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 4:59	No photo	Date: 2014-10-14 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: CMQ Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
Although the 4-stroke Caterpillar 3516 engine has nothing in common with traditional EMD 2-stroke engines, the higher engine RPM combined with the traditional EMD radiator fans creates a sound that could almost be mistaken for a GP38. Here CEFX 2007 shoves a long cut of cars up the grade into the East end of the Sherbrooke yard (working in notch 8), then pulls forward (at 2:20), then reverses into the yard again (3:25).
CMQ 2007 EMD GP20D	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 3:41		Date: 2014-10-14 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: CMQ Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
CEFX 2007 continues switching the Sherbrooke yard. In this recording, the engineer (and engine) have their work cut out for them as they stop under the Belevedere St. overpass (at 1:00), then start up again (1:30) pushing a long string of cars into the yard. The train slowly accelerated - not without a bit of wheelslip, evident in the singing rails at the end of the recording.
CN 0 unk.	11 kHz MP3 0:28	No photo	Date: 1993-07 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: CN Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Distant echos
The most beautiful horn I've ever heard was in this recording of three unknown CN locomotives, taken in 1993 when I was just seven years old. This is a perfectly-tuned K3L, unfortunately heard through my early speaker-to-microphone recording method. The locomotives, as I remember, were CN Zebra-painted units, but I knew nothing about the different models back then. They were probably GP40-2L(W)'s. The last whistle is very long and not muffled out by engine noise - the train was idling as it was coming downhill from Waterville, Quebec on what is now the St. Lawrence & Atlantic.
CN 1382 GMD SW1200RS	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 2:12		Date: 2015-09-12 Location: Exporail, St. Constant, QC Railroad: -- Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: Vintage power
I went to The Canadian Railway Museum (Exporail) in fall 2015 for the "diesel weekend" where all operational diesels were started (with cab tours in each) and there were demonstrations of the turntable and yard switching. Exporail recently acquired a fully operational CN SW1200RS, which has replaced their venerable CN 70-tonner in switching demonstrations. The unit has already been restored in CN's vintage green and gold paint. This is the first of three recordings of the switching demonstration. The goal was to switch three hopper cars (two CP cars and a CN car) so that the CN car would be moved from the back to immediately behind the locomotive. Here, 1382 pulls the three cars forward from the first siding, then reverses to the second siding to drop off the CN hopper.
CN 1382 GMD SW1200RS	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:36	No photo	Date: 2015-09-12 Location: Exporail, St. Constant, QC Railroad: -- Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: Vintage power
Part 2 of 3 of the switching demonstration. Here, CN 1382 pulls the two CP hoppers from the second siding (leaving the CN car behind) and shoves them back into the first siding.
CN 1382 GMD SW1200RS	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:59		Date: 2015-09-12 Location: Exporail, St. Constant, QC Railroad: -- Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: Vintage power
The switching demonstration concluded with a bang! After pulling the CN hopper forward from the second siding, the crew give the venerable switcher a run-8 start (followed by promptly uncoupling and applying the brakes) to shove the car back into the first siding. The car rolled on its own momentum until being definitively stopped by the two parked CP cars - to the great mirth of the announcer (and several dozen onlookers). I think the switching crew was having a blast too. The demonstration concluded with the 1382 being reversed back into the siding with the three cars.
CN 3684 MLW RS-18	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:06		Date: 2015-09-12 Location: Exporail, St. Constant, QC Railroad: -- Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Vintage power
For my trip to Exporail for the fall 2015 "diesel weekend" I was joined by one of my younger railfan friends named Eric. Here, Eric is in the cab of CN 3684, working the throttle, bell and horn with a museum employee, while I recorded from outside. Following the horn blast, I walked alongside the idling 12-251 prime mover.
CN 5359 GMD SD40-2(W)	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:34	No photo	Date: 2003-07-06 Location: London, ON Railroad: CN Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: Running the mainline
CN SD40-2W 5359 and SD50F 5418, passing through Greenway Park in London, Ontario, with a 51-car Westbound evening Intermodal freight. The two run-8 engines sped the train along at over 50 mph (80 km/h) to make the fastest freight train recording I have.
CN 9524 GMD GP40-2L(W)	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:53	No photo	Date: 2001-01 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Running the mainline
Is this a CN horn or a CN horn? The Airchime K3L of GP40-2L(W) 9524 blasts out its melodious D# minor calls as four Geeps pull a 61-car SLR freight uphill towards Waterville, QC, with the engines in full throttle, in one of my favourite recordings. A haunting first whistle is a good example of what Canadian locomotive horns have always been famous for, while the long gap between the first and second whistles emphasizes the very pleasing EMD engine sounds. The button-actuated automatic air valve gives the horn a sudden burst of air, resulting in immediate full-blast sound instead of the softer-starting manual systems in older locomotives. The sounds from the lead unit give way to the characteristic four-stack bark of SLQ GP11 8749, followed by the two loud 645 engines from SLR GP40 3000 and CN GP40-2L(W) 9523. A subtle aspect that makes this recording particularly pleasing is that the turbocharger whines of the locomotives are the same pitch as the horn (strange but true).
CP 3043 GMD GP38-2	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 4:02		Date: 2011-07-18 Location: Quebec St. Yard, London, ON Railroad: CP Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
CP GP38-2 3043 and GP9u 8226 go about their switching duties in CP's Quebec St. Yard in London, ON.
CP 5648 GMD SD40-2	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:45	No photo	Date: 2011-07-18 Location: Quebec St. Yard, London, ON Railroad: CP Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
CP SD40-2's 5648 and 5746 ease through the CP Quebec St. Yard in London, ON.
CP 8211 GMD GP9u	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:50	No photo	Date: 2012-07-02 Location: Quebec St. Yard, London, ON Railroad: CP Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
(1 of 4) CP GP9u's 8211 and 8248 switch cars in CP's Quebec St. Yard in London, ON. The first three recordings were taken from the Quebec St. bridge over the tracks. Here, the units approach from the west end of the yard before passing under the bridge.
CP 8211 GMD GP9u	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:38	No photo	Date: 2012-07-02 Location: Quebec St. Yard, London, ON Railroad: CP Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
(2 of 4) The two Geeps make a seoond pass under the Quebec St. bridge from the yard.
CP 8211 GMD GP9u	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:03		Date: 2012-07-02 Location: Quebec St. Yard, London, ON Railroad: CP Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
(3 of 4) CP 8211 and 8428 idle immediately under the Quebec St. bridge on the tracks just East of the yard, before moving a cut of cars out of the yard.
CP 8211 GMD GP9u	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 2:09		Date: 2012-07-02 Location: Quebec St. Yard, London, ON Railroad: CP Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
(4 of 4) A final recording of venerable GP9u's 8211 and 8248, taken next to the tracks under the Quebec St. bridge as they continue switching.
CP 8215 GMD GP9u	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:48		Date: 2011-07-20 Location: Quebec St. Yard, London, ON Railroad: CP Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
A sound as old as the diesel era! Two elderly CP GP9u's (8215 and 8246) shove a train back into CP's Quebec St. Yard with the characteristic chant of normally aspirated EMD engines. This was recorded on the Quebec St. bridge nearly above the train, creating a guttural sound from the exhaust.
GSCX 3702 EMD GP40	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 1:14	No photo	Date: 2000-09 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Distant echos
Going by at 10:00 at night (sounds like it, too) is a train with classic EMD sounds, coming from what sounds like a pair of GP40s and an SLQ M-420 (it was too dark to confirm). The lead unit was GSCX 3702, later painted in SLR colours and numbered 3001. The Canadian tuned Airchime K3HR3 was unique among the ex-B&O GP40's used on the SLR (3001, 3002 and 3003) and was retrofitted when the unit was leased to CN in prior years. The unit had been built with a Leslie S-3L. The first whistle blast produces a spectacular echo over 4 seconds long. The engines were leading SLR train 394, passing at night (5 hours late) due to track work.
GSCX 3702 EMD GP40	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 1:17	No photo	Date: 2000-10 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Distant echos
SLR had a total of four GP40's in 2000 - the most powerful units on the line at the time - and all were on this train. Straight GP40 lashups, common in the mid 2000s, were very rare in 2000. The units were crossing the Courval road crossing, at the foot of the Waterville, QC grade, and managing 30 mph. The units were initially in run-6, but increased to run-8 for some spectacular engine sounds. One of the GP40's (likely SLR/LLPX 3000) seemed to be not loading properly, causing a variable turbo whine.
GSCX 3702 EMD GP40	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:42	No photo	Date: 2000-11 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Running the mainline
One of my most haunting recordings, and a train that I vividly remember watching. As it was after dark on a cold evening, a bright moon lit up the snow-covered forest along the tracks, gradually complemented by the glare of the locomotive headlights. Out blasted the echoing Airchime K3H of GSCX GP40 3702 leading a late-running SLR 394 train at Courval Road near Waterville, QC. GP40 3702 led the other GATX-painted unit (3717, later 3002) and two GP38 variations. One was ex-BRC LLPX GP38-2 2232, a common sight on the SLR at the time (along with sister 2231). The other, which only stayed on the SLR for a matter of weeks, was MPEX GP38M-4 2001. The units roared past in notch 8, getting a run for the Waterville grade.
GSCX 3717 EMD GP40	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:47	No photo	Date: 2000-11 Location: South of Lennoxville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Leslie S-3L, RS-3L Category: Light work
Here is GSCX 3717 (later painted in SLR colours and renumbered LLPX 3002) with its blasty Leslie S3L horn, pulling a short freight in November 2000 in run 5. Older Leslie S3L's such as this one often sound a diminished chord (C, D#, A), rather than the intended B major 7th (B, D#, A). The whistles are long.
LLPX 2231 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:46	No photo	Date: 2000-11-23 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan M3 Category: Running the mainline
LLPX GP38-2's 2231 and 2232, two SLQ M-420's and SLQ GP11 8749 speed an eastbound train 394 up the grade toward Waterville, QC at about 35 mph. The horns on LLPX 2231 and 2232 were real curiosities: Nathan M3's, which even in 2000 were becoming rare.
LLPX 2231 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:34	No photo	Date: 2001-02 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan M3 Category: Light work
This was the first train I saw with the "yellowbird" LLPX GP38-2's that the SLR leased in 2001. Three such units were dead-in-tow behind LLPX GP38-2 2231 and SLQ M-420 3519. As the train inched over the crossing at slow speed, the engineer went from notch 1 to full throttle and gave me a wild greeting on the horn.
LLPX 2232 EMD GP38-2	11 kHz MP3 0:24		Date: 2000-06 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan M3 Category: Light work
Leased power running in notch 5 in June 2000. The beep-beep after the engines had passed was the first such greeting I got from an SLR engineer, and it later become commonplace. The horn is a Nathan M3R2 with a very quiet top note.
LLPX 2232 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:37	No photo	Date: 2000-10 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan M3 Category: Running the mainline
To my great surprise, this late afternoon freight had mid-train locomotives. Most likely, it was the result of sticking together the two eastbound freights of the day (146 and 394). On the point were two Geeps: LLPX GP38-2 2232 and SLQ GP11 8749. After the 50th car or so came four more Geeps: GSCX GP40's 3702 and 3733, LLPX GP40 3000, and LLPX GP38-2 2231. I was so surprised to suddenly see this that I snapped a picture or two (which didn't turn out) and unfortunately didn't restart the tape recorder.
LLPX 2232 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:40	No photo	Date: 2000-10 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan M3 Category: Distant echos
LLPX GP38-2 2232, SLQ GP11 8749, LLPX GP38-2 2231 and SLR (LLPX) 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 spectacular chorus of run-8 EMD engines (three of them Roots-blown) had I not taped over the recording 10 seconds after the last horn blast.
LLPX 2235 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:18	No photo	Date: 2001-03 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Distant echos
The recording isn't much more than a sample, but it's one of my best K5LA examples. The horn on LLPX 2235 is almost perfectly in tune, with the pitches of all five bells matched to within about 2 Hz. This was the last horn blast of a slow-moving train led by a four-unit set of LLPX GP38-2's approaching Courval road after descending the Waterville grade.
LLPX 2235 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:59		Date: 2001-06-08 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
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.
LLPX 2235 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:44	No photo	Date: 2001-06-10 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
Two days later, same locomotive consist - again in run-8, but moving faster with a lighter train. Thinking that I could capture some unobstructed locomotive sounds, I moved a fair distance down the track from the Courval road crossing (my most common trainspotting location at the time). However, it apparently wasn't far enough, as the engineer startled the daylights out of me by blowing the horn just as the train was passing.
LLPX 2235 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:38		Date: 2001-09-08 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
LLPX GP38-2's 2235 and 2238, an SLR-painted GP40 and two more LLPX GP38-2's roar uphill in run-8 at track speed, creating an impressive Doppler effect as they pass. The first few cars of the train were Centerbeam flatcars, whose length and wheelbase coincide with the 39' rail lengths to create a characteristic clicking sound from the rail joints.
LLPX 2238 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:54	No photo	Date: 2001-05 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Distant echos
GP38-2 2238 leads three more identical units on Train 394 on a pleasant May afternoon. As if to assert their vocal dominance, goldfinches competed with the sounds of the engines for much of the recording. Of all the K5LA horns I've heard over the years, this one was the best, with all the bells almost perfectly in tune with each other (within 1 or 2 Hz).
LLPX 2238 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:39	No photo	Date: 2001-11 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
Another example of the pleasant K5LA horn on 2238. This recording was made in the twilight of the LLPX GP38-2 era on the SLR—already, there were GP40's mixed in with this locomotive consist. Within only a few months, the GP38-2's (though reliable) would fall victim to their expensive leasing costs and full-throttle fuel consumption, replaced by GP40's and (by 2003) GP40-3 / RM-1 slug sets owned outright.
LLPX 2246 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:59		Date: 2001-04 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA (2 bells silent) Category: Running the mainline
This was a typical sight during April 2001 on trains 393 and 394. Leading this train were LLPX 2246, 2248, 2247 and 2235. 2246 sported a Airchime K5LA that was missing the lowest and highest bells, though the remaining three bells still put out a loud noise. As can be seen in the photo, there was still knee-deep snow... in the second week of April! With the locomotives fresh from rebuilding, the Roots-blown 645-series engines sounded extremely smooth and consistent across all the units.
LLPX 2246 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 1:10		Date: 2001-04-15 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA (2 bells silent) Category: Running the mainline
Here's the same four-unit set, in run 8 for most of the recording. In 2000 I had received a request for recordings taken away from a crossing, so the sound of the EMD engines could be emphasized without being disturbed by whistles and bells, and this is the very pleasing result.
LLPX 2246 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 1:00		Date: 2001-05 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA (2 bells silent) Category: Running the mainline
In early May 2001, another string of four full-throttle GP38-2s led by 2246 move along with train 394. The sound of the engines is rather more pleasant than the 3-bell K5LA of 2246.
LLPX 2247 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 1:08	No photo	Date: 2001-07 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
Next up after LLPX 2235 and 2238 for well-tuned K5LA horns on the eight leased GP38-2s was the one on 2247, which had a manual air valve (hence the softer starts). The Geep was in front of GP11 8749, with its characteristic chugging, and three more LLPX GP38-2s pulling a long freight on a glorious summer afternoon. Quite a show! A full 30 seconds at the beginning of the recording are devoted solely to the EMD engine sounds.
LLPX 2248 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:52	No photo	Date: 2001-08-22 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5L Category: Uphill battle
This was one of the most impressive trains I saw in 2001. Everything about it was right: 2248 with its lovely K5L horn, combined with four more units (a chugging SLR GP11 and three more "armor yellow" LLPX units) in run 8 dragging a very long freight uphill. There was a sixth engine, either LLPX 2231 or 2232, but it wasn't running. Sounds like this no longer exist on the SLR; by 2004 a similar train could be moved by only two GP40-3/RM-1 slug sets.
LLPX 2249 EMD GP38-2	22 kHz MP3 0:17	No photo	Date: 2001-06 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Distant echos
The horn on 2249 had a character of its own. The lowest chime was extremely emphasized, but all were pretty much in tune. From a distance it sounded like any other K5LA. This was a 4-unit set of GP38-2's headed downhill with a nighttime 393 freight.
LLPX 2256 EMD GP38-2	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 1:04	No photo	Date: 2001-03-21 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan P3 Category: Running the mainline
This is what's called a run-8 start. In one of my first recordings of the "new" LLPX GP38-2's used on the SLR in 2001, four such units 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 tape recorder) and the train accelerated at a brisk pace. The throttle went almost straight up to run-8.
MMA 3603 GE C30-7	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 1:24		Date: 2006-04-30 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
The slow, guttural chugging of idling GE's turns to a loud rumble as four MMA C30-7's (3603, 3613, 5026 and 5017) start up an 88-car westbound freight leaving the MMA yard in Sherbrooke, QC. The sun was low-angle when they left at almost 7:00 PM, and the conductor, when boarding, called up to the engineer that they were going to be late. The train had arrived in the yard shortly after 5:00, but needed a crew change and some switching before leaving.
MMA 3613 GE C30-7	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:47		Date: 2003-06-20 Location: Lennoxville, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: Airchime K3LA Category: Easing through town
Westbound MMA train rolls around the sharp curve leading into downtown Lennoxville, QC. On the point are C30-7s 3613 and 5023 (the latter still in Burlington Northern paint) easing 45 cars downhill.
MMA 3613 GE C30-7	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:29		Date: 2011-08-01 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
In a chorus of chugging and grumbling, a quartet of MMA GE C30-7's (punctuated by a radio-control caboose) depart westbound out of the MMA yard in Sherbrooke, QC.
MMA 3614 GE C30-7	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:43		Date: 2010-04-26 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
In a chorus of chugging and glugging, a quartet of C30-7's (MMA 3614, 5023, 3613 and 3609) depart the MMA Sherbrooke yard heading West toward Magog. This is the last recording I made with my vintage tape recorder; the mic limiter soon stopped functioning, resulting in clipping. Unfortunately, there were no horn blasts; I realized some time later that 3614 was equipped with a Prime PM-920 horn, a virtual twin of the Leslie S-3L that I've not recorded.
MMA 5016 GE C30-7	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:16		Date: 2006-04-29 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
Three barking C30-7's, led by 5016, are revved up to start a westbound MMA freight leaving the yard in Sherbrooke, QC. Despite sharing a similar prime mover, the sound is different from the Dash-8's also used by the MMA, as the C30-7's are older and lack an exhaust silencer.
MMA 5017 GE C30-7	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:18	No photo	Date: 2006-07-31 Location: East of Lennoxville, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: Airchime K3LA Category: Running the mainline
A pair of chugging, full-throttle C30-7's (5017 and 5078) have a 51-car eastbound mixed freight under control on a summer afternoon. The train, moving at about 20 mph, was headed uphill just after passing eastbound through Lennoxville, QC. A third unit, C30-7 3603, was dead-in-tow. While some of the ex-BN C30-7's have Leslie S-3K horns, 5017 was retrofitted at one point with a ubiquitous Airchime K3LA.
MMA 5021 GE C30-7	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 4:15		Date: 2009-07-21 Location: East of Lennoxville, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Uphill battle
Four MMA GE units—C30-7s 5021, 5026 and 3613, and B23-7 2002—struggle to lift a long freight out of Lennoxville, QC, on a rainy evening. The train did pass without stopping, but it took more than half an hour to do so, as it maintained a consistent walking pace. The units' attempts to control wheelslip are evident in the recording.
MMA 8525 GE B39-8E	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:45		Date: 2003-10-10 Location: Lennoxville, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: Light work
No, this isn't an ALCO pounding away as it throttles up to accelerate a 10-car eastbound local freight; it's one of MMA's ex-GECX B39-8E's, and the sound is coming from a GE 16-cylinder 3900 horsepower FDL engine. The train was exiting Lennoxville, QC, and was passing through the colours of the fall countryside. Note the artwork on the hood—this was the first time I'd seen such grafitti on a locomotive.
MMA 8546 GE B39-8E	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:45	No photo	Date: 2004-10-04 Location: Lennoxville, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: Leslie S-3L, RS-3L Category: Easing through town
The blasty Leslie RS-3L of MMA 8546 sounds for the first of two crossings in Lennoxville, QC, as it leads an 18-car trailer train downhill into the East end of town. In a notable example of train control, the squealing of brakes sounds in harmony with a brief full-throttle revving of the locomotive. A second recording of this train was made a few seconds later as it passed the second crossing in Lennoxville.
MMA 8546 GE B39-8E	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:44		Date: 2004-10-04 Location: Lennoxville, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: Leslie S-3L, RS-3L Category: Easing through town
As with most Leslie RS-3L horns, this one is sounding close to the intended tuning of B, D#, A. Earlier S-3L's tended to be sharp on the lowest note, sounding a C instead. The horn, in combination with several crossing bells, was not enough to stop at least one driver from cutting through the crossing. After the locomotive cleared the crossing, the engineer revved up the single Dash-8 to move the train out of town, towards the diamond crossing with the St. Lawrence & Atlantic.
MMA 8548 GE B39-8E	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:34	No photo	Date: 2006-01-03 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
A ringing bell and the slow murmur of a 7FDL prime mover is just about all that can be heard as B39-8E 8548 is led on its switching duties on a frigid winter afternoon, in the MMA yard in Sherbrooke, QC. The unit was moving a single hopper car along one of the yard tracks.
MMA 8569 GE B39-8E	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:39		Date: 2005-03-01 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
This was a fantastic recording opportunity! Perhaps the engineer saw me with my camera and tape recorder, because I could find no other reason for what happened here. B39-8E 8569 was being used to switch cars in the MMA yard in Sherbrooke, QC. After setting off a short cut of cars on a siding and pulling forward to the end of the yard, the engineer slammed the throttle to between run 5 and 7 (which are the same engine speed on Dash-8s) and the engine slowly reversed back into one of the sidings, presumably riding the brakes. The result: a perfect runby of a nearly full-speed GE FDL engine with no other sounds than the prime mover itself.
MMA 8578 GE B39-8E	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:27	No photo	Date: 2006-02-19 Location: Yard, Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
MMA B39-8E 8578 was idling the afternoon away on a freezing winter afternoon. Since there is no antifreeze in the cooling systems of locomotives, the engine must either be kept running or be drained in subzero weather. In the recording, the air compressor started up, which is substantially louder than the engine itself.
MMA 8592 GE B39-8E	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:19		Date: 2005-08-27 Location: Lennoxville, QC Railroad: MMA Horn Type: Leslie S-3L, RS-3L Category: Easing through town
This is the sound of MMA B39-8E 8592 leading a 14-car Westbound freight into Lennoxville, QC. The engineer touches the throttle of the big four-axle GE as the train eases past the first of two crossings in the town. Note the intermittently functioning crossing bell. As is the case with many of the MMA Dash-8's, the Leslie RS-3L is sounding the intended chord.
QGRY 3105 EMD GP40	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:52		Date: 2015-04-13 Location: South of Lennoxville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5L Category: Running the mainline
QGRY 3105, SLR GP40-3's 3805 and 3806, and SLR RM-1 805 accelerate Train 394 with about 78 cars out of Lennoxville, QC, crossing Nichol Rd. QGRY 3105 has a pleasing (and loud) K5L.
QGRY 3105 EMD GP40	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:02		Date: 2015-04-13 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5L Category: Uphill battle
As QGRY 3105, SLR GP40-3's 3805 and 3806, and SLR RM-1 805 climb the Waterville, QC grade, the four units have been throttled up to notch 8, but they are still keeping a respectable pace of about 20 mph. SLR 3805 had an occasionally fluctuating engine speed.
QGRY 3105 EMD GP40	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:35		Date: 2015-04-13 Location: North of Compton, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: Running the mainline
After exiting Waterville, QC, QGRY 3105, SLR GP40-3's 3805 and 3806, and SLR RM-1 805 are throttled down to notch 2-3 along the flatter section of track past the Waterville grade. The train stopped as it approached Compton, QC, although I didn't pursue it further to find the cause.
RS 20 MLW RS-2	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:12		Date: 2015-09-12 Location: Exporail, St. Constant, QC Railroad: -- Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: Vintage power
Roberval & Saguenay RS-2 #20 is among the several operational diesels at Exporail that was started for the fall 2015 "diesel weekend". Here is a short recording of the unit idling, demonstrating the characteristic chugging of a 12-cylinder 244 series ALCO engine.
SLQ 3505 MLW M-420	11 kHz MP3 0:36	No photo	Date: 2000-07 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Uphill battle
SLQ MLW M-420 3505 leads three sisters upgrade, putting on an impressive show as they battle the foot of the Waterville grade at about 20 mph. The gruff Airchime K3H of 3505 adds to the effect.
SLQ 3512 MLW M-420	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:43	No photo	Date: 2000-08 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L (major chord) Category: Running the mainline
Two MLW M-420's and leased GP40's 3000 and 3717 roar past at over 30 mph. The K3H on 3512 has a pleasing major (rather than minor) chord. GP40 3000 was running at reduced rpm, as it had been for much of the year 2000.
SLQ 3512 MLW M-420	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:57		Date: 2000-08 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L (major chord) Category: Running the mainline
SLQ 3512, 3578, a third MLW M-420 and a GSCX GP40 (either 3702 or 3717) are in charge of SLR train 394 on a summer afternoon. The lone GP40 was easily heard over the three MLW units.
SLQ 3512 MLW M-420	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:51	No photo	Date: 2000-08 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L (major chord) Category: Running the mainline
Six locomotives head upgrade in run-8: Three SLQ MLW M420's and three GP40's (with GP40 3000 at reduced rpm in the middle). Just after the second whistle blast, a daredevil driver stopped on the tracks, watched the train come, and drove off during the third whistle blast with 5 seconds to spare.
SLQ 3512 MLW M-420	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:40		Date: 2000-09 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L (major chord) Category: Running the mainline
SLR Train 394 with MLW M-420 3512, GSCX GP40 3733, SLQ GP11 8749 and GP40 3000 (still at reduced rpm). The most spectacular sounds came from the smallest unit. (Hint: third in the consist).
SLQ 3517 MLW M-420	11 kHz MP3 0:46	No photo	Date: 2000-06-23 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Running the mainline
Two MLW M-420's and a GP40 in about run 6. The K3H of 3517 was one of the nicest of any SLR/SLQ unit.
SLQ 3517 MLW M-420	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:32		Date: 2001-05 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Light work
SLQ M-420's 3517 and 3579 ease along a short Intermodal freight (train 146) in the twilight of the MLW era. The engineer yelled a greeting out the window, just audible over the grumbling engines.
SLQ 3519 MLW M-420	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:35		Date: 2000-08 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Running the mainline
MLW M420's 3519 and 3579 head upgrade in run-8 with mid-day train 146. A pleasing Doppler effect resulted from the long last whistle blast.
SLQ 3562 MLW M-420	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 1:02	No photo	Date: 2000-10 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Distant echos
A nighttime recording of a mix of SLQ M-420's and GP40's heading downhill from Waterville, QC, in a chorus of burbles (M-420's) and drones (GP40's). The horn on 3562 is a gruff-sounding augmented chord (in place of the original minor chord) although all three chimes are still functioning.
SLQ 3562 MLW M-420	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:32	No photo	Date: 2001-03 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Light work
Wet snow + 0-degree Celsius temperature = horn trouble! The #2 chime is the only one left working on 3562 on this train, with the others clogged with snow. Following were SLQ M-420's 3578 and 3517, burbling past in mid-throttle with a short SLR train headed East.
SLQ 3569 MLW M-420	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:14	No photo	Date: 2000-10 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Distant echos
SLR Train 394 heads past after dark with a mix of MLW and EMD units - among them, unmistakably, an SLQ GP11. The horn on 3569 is not exactly in tune, but still pleasing.
SLQ 3573 MLW M-420	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:35	No photo	Date: 2000-09 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H (1 bell silent) Category: Running the mainline
The finest example of ALCO burbling I have ever recorded, coming from SLQ M-420's 3573 and 3579. 3573 was known for its liberal production of smoke, even when in run-8.
SLQ 3578 MLW M-420	11 kHz MP3 1:58	No photo	Date: 2000-05 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Running the mainline
My very first recording of an SLR train, with two SLQ M-420's and a GP40 leading 57 cars. I no longer have it on tape and it unfortunately only exists as this speaker-to-microphone transfer. For those who think trains take forever to pass, this one was moving at 25 mph and took less than 2 minutes. The whole train was recorded.
SLQ 3578 MLW M-420	11 kHz MP3 0:45	No photo	Date: 2000-05 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Light work
My second recording of an SLR train. This is of two SLQ M-420's leading 17 cars in about notch 5.
SLQ 3578 MLW M-420	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:55		Date: 2001-03 Location: South of Lennoxville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H Category: Light work
Lots to hear in this recording: clear bell and horn sounds from 3578, grumbling engine sounds from both lead units (3517 was following) and a "whoo-hooo!" from the conductor! I can't help but smile at the crew's sense of humour. Also visible in the photo (link) is the roll of toilet paper they threw out the window! The whole train (only 18 cars) was recorded.
SLQ 3579 MLW M-420	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:47		Date: 2000-09 Location: South of Lennoxville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H (1 bell silent) Category: Running the mainline
One of my favourite recordings. SLQ M-420 3579 (with its authoritative, albeit two-chime K3H) another MLW M-420 and GSCX GP40's 3702 and 3717 roar past in a chorus of whistles and whines. The regular wheel sounds come from Centerbeam flatcars, whose length and wheelbase closely match the 39' rail lengths.
SLQ 3579 MLW M-420	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:59		Date: 2000-09 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H (1 bell silent) Category: Running the mainline
This was one of my most memorable train-watching experiences - check out the photo link to see why! This is the sound of six SLQ M-420's (3579, 3562, 3573, 3519, 3517, and 3578) racing along in run-8, as heard from a ditch below track level. As the spot was a bit unnerving, I did not stay there long!
SLQ 3579 MLW M-420	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:01	No photo	Date: 2000-09 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H (1 bell silent) Category: Distant echos
A four-unit set of SLQ M-420's, heard from some distance from the track, lead a late-running train 394 traveling at night.
SLQ 3579 MLW M-420	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 0:52		Date: 2001-09-13 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3L, K3H (1 bell silent) Category: Light work
SLQ M-420 3579 and GP11 8749 lead the Sherbrooke local towards Waterville, QC. The train returned and was recorded again about an hour later with the Geep leading. At the time of this recording, 3579 was one of the last MLW units still in service on the SLR. GP11 8749 was also on borrowed time on the SLR, although it would later see decades of continued service on other railroads.
SLQ 8748 EMD GP11	11 kHz MP3 0:36		Date: 2000-06 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan P5 (4 bells silent) Category: Running the mainline
Another relic of the speaker-to-microphone era. But despite the lack of bass tones, there's a lot to be heard in this recording. Perhaps most obvious initially is the pathetic Nathan P5 horn on GP11 8748, on which only the top #5 bell was sounding. While in the following days the #1 and #4 bells started functioning, it apparently was not enough to avoid replacement, and later that month it was replaced with a Nathan K3LA. (For more than 20 years I had assumed this was GP11 8749 and that the horn had later been repaired; it was only in September 2022, when discovering new photos of GP11 8748 from early 2000 and taking a closer look at my own photo above, that I learned that this was actually 8748.) The second noteworthy sound is coming from the third unit in the consist: MLW M420 3516 (behind 8748 and GSCX GP40 3717). The sick-sounding burbly putt-putt is from an engine with a damaged fuel injector, turning at only 800 rpm or so (normal speed is 1000 rpm). It caught my attention as it went by, with brown smoke and the occasional flame out the stack - but despite the alarming symptoms, the problem was not too serious and the unit was quickly repaired.
SLQ 8748 EMD GP11	11 kHz MP3 0:38	No photo	Date: 2000-06-23 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3LA Category: Running the mainline
GP11 8748, two GP40's and two MLW M420's roar uphill in run-8 with SLR Train 394. The horn (a K3LA, replacing the previous semi-functional Nathan P5) had been installed on 8748 only a few days before this recording.
SLQ 8748 EMD GP11	22 kHz MP3 0:28	No photo	Date: 2000-08 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K3LA Category: Light work
Here are the two SLQ GP11s (8748 and 8749) paired back-to-back, with the characteristic chant of 567 engines in run-5. Some time before this recording, I missed an opportunity to record the two units when they were once used as a pair in run-8 - what a sound! The four exhaust stacks resonate the exhaust note and make it more guttural than a Geep with the original two stacks.
SLQ 8749 EMD GP11	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 1:07	No photo	Date: 2000-09 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan P5 Category: Uphill battle
Every train I saw with GP11 8749 had something interesting about it, but this ground-shaker roaring upgrade at 20 mph was the best. Roaring past one by one, GP11 8749, GP40's 3000 and 3733, an LLPX GP38-2 (either 2231 or 2232) and an SLQ M-420 created a spectacular show. Five different engine sounds - a supercharged 16-567, two turbocharged 16-645s (one at reduced rpm, in GP40 3000) a supercharged 16-645 and an Alco 12-251 - combined with a brassy Nathan P5 make this one of my favourite recordings. If I could go back in time, I would watch this train at the crest of the Waterville grade, where it had likely slowed to 10-12 mph. For any musicians listening, the horn on 8749 is a "new cast" P5, with tuning characteristically different from original specs. However, unlike many other such horns, this one creates a melodious chord, formed by the four bottom notes playing the intended intervals (one semitone sharp) with the top note flat by a semitone. The result is a B-flat major dominant ninth first inversion (D, F, Ab, Bb, C) - an arguably more interesting chord than the intended dominant seventh.
SLQ 8749 EMD GP11	Analog, 44 kHz MP3 0:36	No photo	Date: 2001-02 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan P5 Category: Light work
8749 once again demonstrates its unusually melodious P5, and ever pleasing engine sounds. Here it leads a CN GP40-2L(W) on a short freight. Leased CN units were a common sight on the SLR in early 2001, when the three GSCX GP40's (3702, 3717 and 3733) were off for an overhaul and the LLPX GP38-2's used in 2001 had not yet arrived.
SLQ 8749 EMD GP11	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:00		Date: 2001-09-13 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Nathan P5 Category: Light work
Returning from Waterville on a local freight (recorded heading up an hour earlier) 8749 rolls downhill with 3579, one of the last MLW M420's still in service on the line. Both units would soon make way in the coming months for a fleet of GP40's that have characterized the SLR's motive power fleet ever since.
SLR 803 EMD RM-1	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:37		Date: 2011-06-22 Location: Sherbrooke, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: Running the mainline
RM-1 803, GP40-3 3806 and GP40s 3206 and 3004 accelerate a medium-length train 394 (55 cars) out of Sherbrooke, QC, south toward Lennoxville. This was recorded from Galt St. in Sherbrooke, which passes over the SLR line. This is the first recording to use the Roland R-05 digital audio recorder I now use in place of the previous tape recorder.
SLR 803 EMD RM-1	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:58		Date: 2011-06-22 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
RM-1 803, GP40-3 3806, GP40s 3206 and 3004 head up the Waterville, QC grade, with the engines throttling from run 7 to 8 as the train passes. The medium-length train 394 proved relatively light work for the locomotives.
SLR 803 EMD RM-1	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:41		Date: 2011-06-22 Location: North of Compton, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
The same train eases toward Compton, QC, with the locomotives in run 6.
SLR 803 RM-1	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:09	No photo	Date: 2012-08-03 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Uphill battle
SLR 803 (leading a pair of slug sets) has train 394 well under control cresting the Waterville grade in run-8.
SLR 803 EMD RM-1	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:37		Date: 2015-04-14 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Uphill battle
SLR RM-1 803, GP40-3 3803 and GP40-2 3035 (formerly SLR 3206) make their way up the Waterville, QC grade with train 394 and about 64 cars in tow. Despite the relatively long train for only 6,000 horsepower, the units were able to maintain about 15 mph.
SLR 803 EMD RM-1	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:41		Date: 2015-04-14 Location: North of Compton, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
After exiting Waterville, SLR RM-1 803, GP40-3 3803 and GP40-2 3035 pick up speed with train 394.
SLR 804 EMD RM-1	22 kHz MP3 1:34	No photo	Date: 2007-01-03 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Distant echos
RM-1 804, GP40M-3 3804, GP40 3002, GP40M-3 3806 and RM-1 806 have over 80 cars moving along at the foot of the Waterville, QC grade, on train 394. Noteworthy in this recording is the excessive whine coming from an imbalanced turbocharger rotor on GP40 3002.
SLR 804 EMD RM-1	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:13	No photo	Date: 2007-01-05 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
RM-1 804, GP40M-3 3804, GP40 3002, GP40M-3 3806 and RM-1 806 roar up the Waterville grade at a good clip. GP40 3002 is once again the source of the turbocharger whine.
SLR 804 EMD RM-1	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:45	No photo	Date: 2007-10-20 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Uphill battle
SLR 804, GP40-3s 3804 and 3803, and RM-1 803 crest the Waterville grade at 8 or 9 mph. Wet rail and a very long train (94 cars) made this one of the few occasions where I've seen the slug sets fight for traction. A couple of fluctuations in the rpm of the engines are indicative of wheelslip, and a subsequent automatic reduction in power to correct it.
SLR 804 EMD RM-1	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:27	No photo	Date: 2015-10-01 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Uphill battle
SLR RM-1 804, GP40-3 3805, and GP40's 3035 and 3047 crest the Waterville, QC grade with 63 cars of mixed freight. By 2015, it seemed many SLR trains had a higher power-to-weight ratio than in previous years, allowing them to crest the Waterville, QC grade at 15-18 mph. This train was an exception, with a large percentage of loaded cars bringing the units down to 12 mph in notch 8. The two GP40's were running in power-matching mode to reduce wheelslip.
SLR 805 EMD RM-1	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:23		Date: 2005-04-10 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Uphill battle
Although standard practice for much of 2004 was to have GP40-3s leading with RM-1's in the middle, subsequent locomotive mix-ups sometimes placed RM-1's on the point. Such was the case with this train, where RM-1 805 leads GP40-3 3806, RM-1 804 and GP40-3 3804 on an 80-car freight headed up the 1% grade in Waterville, QC. They were managing about 10 mph in run-8 but sped up to over 20 mph after the train crested the grade—a typical performance of the slug sets.
SLR 805 EMD RM-1	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:03		Date: 2005-06-06 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Riding the brakes
Talk about whining! Seven locomotives—RM-1 805, GP40-3 3805, RM-1 804, GP40-3 3804, RM-1 806, GP40-3 3806 and GP40 3206—hold back the 121 cars of a late-running Westbound 393 freight easing down the grade from Waterville, QC. GP40 3206 is the source of the peculiar fluctuating whining sound, a result of a minor problem with the control system of the dynamic brake fan. This was another horn greeting from the SLR crew.
SLR 805 EMD RM-1	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:16	No photo	Date: 2015-08-21 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Uphill battle
With a little over 50 cars in tow, SLR RM-1 805, GP40-3's 3806 and 3805, and RM-1 804 roar up the Waterville grade in run-8 at about 15 mph. Several years ago, the crossing signals were changed to reduce the wait time for slow trains, with the result that somewhat faster trains cresting the grade (such as this one) may have one or two horn blasts before the signals activate.
SLR 805 EMD RM-1	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:58		Date: 2015-08-21 Location: North of Compton, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5LA Category: Running the mainline
SLR RM-1 805, GP40-3's 3806 and 3805, and RM-1 804 accelerate toward Compton, QC, after cresting the Waterville grade.
SLR 3008 EMD GP40	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 1:14		Date: 2011-06-29 Location: Bromptonville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Leslie S-5T Category: Light work
SLR GP40 3008 has been in possession of a spectacular Leslie S-5T for several years, and I was finally able to get a recording of it. It was paired with QGRY GP40 3102 on a local freight headed North after performing some switching in Sherbrooke, QC.
SLR 3035 EMD GP40-2	Digital, 44 kHz MP3 0:44		Date: 2016-06-06 Location: Yard, Richmond, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: (No horn blasts) Category: In the yard
SLR GP40-3 3803, GP40-2 3035, RM-1 805 and GP40-3 3805 are being prepped to leave Richmond, QC, with Train 394 at around 5:00 PM on June 6, 2016. This is the sound of 3803 idling (it had just been started) and of 3035 being started up.
SLR 3202 EMD GP40	22 kHz MP3 44 kHz WAV 1:22	No photo	Date: 2007 Location: Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5L Category: Uphill battle
GP40 3202 and several other units roar up the grade into Waterville, QC, at a relatively high speed for the grade (about 18 mph). I've lost data regarding the date and consist, but I recall two RM-1/GP40-3 slug sets following. GP40 3202 previously had turbo problems that led to turbo barking, accompanied by a reduction in rpm and an orange glow out the exhaust stack, but these seemed to have been remedied by this time. The first whistle blasts are for the main road crossing in Waterville; the second ones (after passing) are for a factory road.
SLR 3202 EMD GP40	22 kHz MP3 0:33	No photo	Date: 2007-06-14 Location: North of Waterville, QC Railroad: SLR Horn Type: Airchime K5L Category: Light work
Compared to the first recording of 3202, this is the same location, with the same local train, five years later. Some people may bemoan the loss of the unit's Leslie S5T, but it was in a sad state after a few years—and the horn that replaced it is arguably the prettiest on the line. By this time, 3202 had the only K5L on the SLR; most other units had a K5LA.

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