Leslie S-3L

Characteristics

Tuning

B major seventh (B, D#, A) with Leslie bells #25, #31, #44

Sound

The S-3L (and most Leslie horns in general) is known for a deep and blasty sound that is extremely effective as an attention-getter. Although the original tuning was a B major seventh (B, D#, A) other chords were possible. The MMA B39-8E samples below are of later "spiked-cap" versions (RS-3L-R) that are very close to being in tune. SLR 3205 also has an RS-3L-R, but the chord is halfway between the intended tuning (B, D#, A) and a minor triad (B, D#, G#). The other samples are of horns playing a diminished chord (C, D#, A) which is typical of the older horns. Some horns don't play a specific chord.

Samples

• MMA B39-8E #8546 (2004-10-04) - RS-3L-R
• MMA B39-8E #8592 (2005-08-27) - RS-3L-R (almost perfectly tuned)
• GATX GP40 #3717 (2000-11) - S-3L-R
• SLR (LLPX) GP40 #3205 (2002-08-26) - RS-3L-RO

• SLR (LLPX) GP40 #3004 (2002-09-23) - S-3L-R (#31 bell functioning intermittently)
• SLR (LLPX) GP40 #3733 (2000-07) - S-3L-R (#25 bell silent)
• SLR (LLPX) GP40 #3003 (2003-02-07) - S-3L-R (#25 bell squawking)

Appearance

If you see a horn with two large bells facing forwards and a smaller, raised one facing backwards, chances are it's an S3L-R. While this was by far the most popular arrangement, the horns are by no means limited to it. Since all the power chambers are the same size, the bells can be arranged in any fashion on the manifold by railroad maintenance crews—which is, in fact, what happened.

Leslie bells have narrower throats than those of the Nathan/Airchime K-series and M-series, and there's a wider variation in the diameter of the bell openings; the larger bells have a much wider outer opening than the smaller ones. Spiked back caps are indicative of RS-3L's with reliability improvements.

Classification and Use

Classification

There are many suffixes and prefixes based on manifold and horn design and placement. Prefixes: R= spiked back caps, L=low profile manifold, and U=very low profile "universal" manifold. Suffixes: O=normal arrangement of bells is switched left to right, J=tall, narrow manifold, and R=1 or more bells reversed. Most prefixes and suffixes generally designate very minor modifications, so the horn is often just referred to as an S-3L or S-3L-R.

History

The S-3L horn was introduced as competition for the Nathan/Airchime M3 series in the 1950's. The earliest S-3L's had two-piece bells and power chambers with mounting tabs around the perimeter. This was later changed to single-piece bells and simple, circular power chamber housings. In the 1970's, internal modifications were made to improve reliability, resulting in the "R" prefix and "spiked" back caps. Audibly, these later horns were a little harsher-sounding than the earlier versions, but much less prone to going out of tune.

Locations

The Leslie S-3L has always been virtually nonexistant on locomotives of Canadian origin, but for decades has been the standard three-chime horn in the United States. Once the most popular of all the air horns, it has since been supplanted by the Nathan/Airchime K3LA and K5LA, and has not been purchased in quantity for several years. Nevertheless, it is still a very common sight on locomotives from almost any American railroad.