I don't know the origin of the law, but the Canadian Bord of Transportation mandates that locomotive horns in Canada must play a D# Minor chord. The K series of horns were originally developed for use in Canada, and so they all played D# Minor chords. In 1975 the K5L was tuned for use by Amtrak to play a B major 6th, and so the A for Americian tuned was added to the designation. (Up until 75 the K horns had "Made in Canada" cast into the back caps.) A K5L/K5H plays D#,F#,A#,C,D#. A K5LA/K5HA plays D#,F#,G#,B,D#.
Here's two videos to compare the two:
K5L Canadian tuned, on a BC rail unit.
[
www.youtube.com]
K5LA Americian tuned on an Amtrak Cascades unit.
[
www.youtube.com]
Matt
Moscow ID