Hancock 4700 Air Whistle for the V&T 

The hancock chime whistle makes a beautiful sound. This brings back fond memories for me.I lived near the NYNH&H RR back in the 1950s. These hancock whistles were used on their GP9 , RS11 , H16-44 , SW1200 , FL9 , and RDC budd cars.These whistles were also used on their EP5 electric locos and also their washboard electric mu cars used a version of this whistle that didn't have the sound reflecter around it. I lived near the railroads maybrook line and I would enjoy listening to these whistles in the middle of the night. I just wish that those whistles were louder . Such a beautiful sound in the middle of the night!!

I remember the first time I heard a Hancock. It was 1985, I was 15, and was walking down an embankment of the east shore of the Hudson River toward the tracks below. I had no idea what trains ran there or what I'd see. Suddenly, I heard what sounded like a steam locomotive whistle blowing for a road crossing. I asked myself, "what the hell is that?". To my surprise and astonishment, two back to back FL9 locomotives are rounding a curve with tired, weathered, stainless Budd coaches. My jaw dropped for I knew I had stumbled into railroad heaven.

The tone change is smooth an rich , beautiful change , congratulations very nice makes me close my eyes and an smile..a sound long forgotten but loved so much...

I fondly remember back in the mid 60s my grandparents lived in Lake Worth Florida. The Seaboard Coast Line ran behind their house. There was one particulat E7 or E6 loco that had the Hancock Air Whistle that passed by on occasion. I was 7 or 8 years old but I'll never forget that sound.

I'm 9 miles away. I like the sound I hear when I'm up there.

They sound SO good in person, especially if they have a little wear to them

+up3368 *Rizzoli Type 4735 is a winner!* This three-chime with a concentrator has a tone appropriate for much of the late 19th-Century steam, in a directional format.

The first time I heard the Horn riding the train, it hurt my ears, I'm happy they put in the air whistle, and you did a good job on modefying it.

Neat modification! I recall these air whistles fondly. The MN&S used them on its locomotives.

Never been to the V&T, but heard a sound clip from a trustworthy source, and I'll say it sounds pretty darned good!

The Hancock is MUCH better than the K3LA they used to have on D-1.

I love that hancock air whistle. That's much better! 👍👍

I want something that sounds like this for my bicycle, tbh. No little ding-a-ling bell or honky clown horn. I want this tone for warning pedestrians of my oncoming bike (but obviously it doesn't need to be as loud as this). Also want this for my Ford Ranger too. I don't use my horn hardly ever, so when I do, I want it to make a bigger statement, and this modified 3-chime is exactly what the doctor ordered.

I once had one of these in my collection and not knowing then its significance I sold it for pennies on the dollar. Compared to other whistles in my collection it didn't sound very good so wasn't that disappointed to let it go. Now knowing I should have sold it for more. Hindsight certainly is crystal clear.

So what was done with the original 4700 bell assembly? Great sound BTW on the retune! As a horn collector I have never been interested much in the 4700/4710 as I thought it sounded similar to a steam whistle on air, raspy and not quite as full of a sound. Buy your retune job shows that air whistles can sound great!

Beautiful job much better tone and also great job on the video and excellent tribute to a great ole company!

very sweet, love the tone

Gorgeous sound!

Great sound! Good work!

Great job! Video nicely done too!

Good work Chris!

Now it ACTUALLY sounds like a steam whistle

Awesome work!!! Sounds outstanding!!!❤️

Your rendition of the Hancock 4700 sounds incredible. Wish I had one to send to you. I'd install the whistle on my diesel pickup.

Good morning

Wonderful!

2:27 I saw a video of a train passing by at over 60 miles per hour and had no problem hearing the whistle.

Would you be willing to make another Bell? I have a hancock 4700 that I wouldn't mind hearing this chord come from.

sounds great

That is awesome!

I like the original better than it was modified!

So...just a hypothetical question...could you mount something like this with a small air compressor.....on car?

0:39 same type of whistle used on Texas and Pacific, Western Pacific and Denver and Rio Grande

good job you did a nice job now is cool then the air horn

Do you think you guys could do a video describing the math that you use to determine the chamber lengths on the whistles? My friend and I had the idea to make a whistle for our Halloween posse. I told him I could attempt to make one out of PVC, so this is something I’d certainly like to learn.

Please link these diagrams in the description! I would like to use these to attempt to model this whistle.

You Did Awesome! and now mass production and more varieties?

thats pretty cool. sounds great

If I may, I'd like to ask you a question, regarding the whistles you build. How can one determine the notes of the whistle, considering that many whistles have different diameters and bell lengths? I'm asking, because I'm going into a machining class at college, and one of the projects I have is to build, at least, one steam whistle for the railroad museum I work for. The main problem I've been having, is figuring out how to get the certain notes of the whistle, to match with the diameter and length of the bell.

I went to the V&T today, and the whistle is starting to sound like the Toonerville Trolley again.

Would you be interested in doing another one

haha 6:21 my favourite engine

Can you or do you make a smaller version of this for big rigs?

With all the money they wasted on air wistles, they couldve just used steam wistles

I feel like this is just something to brag about to your friends

FAIL; original sounds better IMHO. Nice try though...