Union Pacific 3985 Hancock Long Bell Whistle Rebuild

[@FanRailer]

This is going to sound so good back on the engine when its restoration is complete! This poor whistle sounded so beat up and tired towards the end of the 2000s. Great work as always!

[@artsyminecrafter745]

Cant wait to hear her scream in the wind again. I have many locos I love. But 3985 is first in my heart. ❤ thank you for this miracle.

[@KnapfordMaster98]

So happy to see 3985 finally getting the proper love and attention it deserves. I think the future is quite bright for it.

[@thunderbird1921]

From what I've heard, this is the largest overhaul 3985 has received since the 1950s (and it's one so expensive that UP Steam fleet leader Ed Dickens actually said that restoring Big Boy 4014 was in fact the cheaper option, so it's a tremendous investment of time, resources and affection by RHMA). How about 5511 as well? UP's "Forgotten Giant" will AT LAST get a chance to shine after decades of sitting and gathering dust.

[@leechjim8023]

I thought 3985 was ALLREADY restored and doing excursions, etc. What the HELL happened!!! I saw a recent video that showed her being towed off as if to scrap!!😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮?????

[@thunderbird1921]

@@leechjim8023 Nope, they would NEVER scrap 3985. She's one of only two in her Challenger-class left in existence. The problem was that 3985 was in bad shape by 2010, so much so that UP found it was cheaper to retire her from active duty and restore Big Boy 4014 instead of repairing her. She's been sold to the Railroad Heritage of North America, who has the facilities and money to overhaul her, and they plan to operate her in excursion service in the heartland and beyond. The train you saw was a movement of her and UP 5511 to Silvis, IL for restoration. If all goes well, we will have FOUR Union Pacific steam giants in operation for the first time since the 1950s: 844, 4014, 3985 and 5511.

[@rudycarlson8245]

It’s gonna be so awesome to hear 3985’s voice once again at being silent for over 10 years!

[@evanf1293]

Great to see you guys were involved in helping another whistle for another famous steam engine. Sure can't wait for the day she's back and to hear that whistle once again.

[@CoreytheATSFConnie]

OOOOOHHHH MY GOD, YOU ARE SO GOATED FOR FIXING HER WHISTLE

[@TrainMedia00]

3985 is coming to the future, I really want to join the RRHMA and work as a railroader because I love big steam locomotives and classic diesel locomotives. I can't wait to see 3985 coming to life.

[@the_atsf_railfan2926]

Imagine how awesome it would be if 4014 and 3985 double headed when 3985 is complete

[@xomvel]

Not sure if it's possible but it might be. Who knows?

[@AroyalOfficalYT]

That's what I'm sayyinggg

[@ns4270railfan]

It would be great for 3985 to be under steam again. The Union Pacific ran it practically to the ground till being retired in 2010. I thought the UP will run it again, but since being busy with the Big Boy 4014 and the 844, they thought that 3 steamers will be just too much money to maintain, but at it's new home in Silvis, IL it will have a new lease on life once restored along with the 5511 and the diesel engine the DDA40X 6936. So with your team bringing the whistle back to it's original condition, it's going to be a blast watching the renewed 3985 on KZbin and hopefully sometime I'll see the massive steamer in person. That would be an awesome treat, but like what Strasburg did with the N&W 611, I doubt that 3985 will not be able to run on the Strasburg railroad in Lancaster PA. One thing is the weight of 3985. 3985 is about 1 million pounds and the second thing is that it's an articulated steamer and I don't think the rails on Strasburg's lines won't support that kind of steamer. Norfolk & Western 611 operated there but 611 is smaller than 3985, so those are the two main reasons why 3985 won't be able to run at Strasburg like the 611. UP 844 might be able to run at Strasburg because 844 is a 4-8-4 Northern type like 611 and the Reading & Northern 2102. Anyway, nice job on getting 3985's whistle back to it's original condition and I can't wait for the big day when 3985 gets back under steam and seeing videos on KZbin with the rebuilt whistle.

[@BigPhil-lsNum1]

You CANNOT BELIEVE how much of a NICE suprise this was to see on my feed!

[@KeijiSuwa]

For some time during 3985’s excursion career its whistle used to sound like 611’s whistle from the 90s. It’d be great if the newly restored whistle sounds like that again once it’s back on 3985.

[@uniontrains.8631]

YES! I was so scared that her whistle might have been worned out like 4449's which would have meant replacing it. I'm so happy that 3985 still gets to keep her current whistle!

[@MrAwesomedude808]

I’ll remember watching it go by TWICE one weekend when I was a young boy in Illinois

[@T128Productions]

No way, for real?! THIS IS AMAZING!!! I always knew the 3985’s whistle would finally get the treatment it deserves! Edit: Now that I think about it, if this is really Big Boy 4004’s whistle, and the 3985’s number is engraved on said whistle, this is already confusing.

[@SadFairlie]

I believe only parts of 4004's whistle were used on 3985's whistle.

[@jamesm6638]

It's not confusing. Parts get swapped around all the time. They make them interchangeable for a reason. You'll find parts stamped with dozens of engine numbers on any given locomotive.

[@T128Productions]

⁠@@jamesm6638 I see.

[@edgallegos496]

Railfair 81. I was there. It was a great show. I wound up in handcuffs before it was over.

[@TheWarbonnet660]

What did you even do???!!??

[@madrabidfireman]

@@TheWarbonnet660 Driving without my drivers I.D. one me. LOL

[@AlexTrain5249]

YES!!!! I TOLD STEVE ABOUT YOU GUYS! I explicitly said that 3985’s whistle needs repairs and the odds that the person who had 3985’s was in 261’s cab when it happened was just awesome. So that’s why the highest note began to stop sounding in 1992.

[@victoriapetersen2339]

Amazing restoration, you never shy away from a challenge!

[@scale_model_apprentice]

Amazing. 4014 is awesome, but 3985 will always be my favorite. Can't wait to finally see her run again and hear her sing.

[@angelaisingioro5832]

Oh yeah? If you have a chance to vote, would you vote for Harris or Trump?

[@southern_railman]

Repairing #3985’s iconic three-chime whistle is major win. Thank you for this!

[@Shipwright1918]

Sierra 3 and now 3985, racking up quite the list of superstar whistle rebuilds at RLW.

[@xomvel]

You madlads actually did it!!! Bravo.

[@rogerhuber3133]

Very interesting video. Thanks for the great restoration work.

[@captvictor]

very cool, was great to have heard it ;)

[@EngineerDaylight]

3985s whistle gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. 844 & 4014 got nothing on her. I only hope the changes won't affect the sound in a negative way

[@xomvel]

Look at the whistle restoration of Sierra #3 and you’ll see that the whistle sounds the same as it used to (before it wore out), so it’s highly likely it won’t affect the sound in a negative way.

[@C.J.Holden]

I love these whistle restoration videos you guys do. Hopeful to see more of them soon.

[@thetoontrain473]

Quite amazing. You guys do an amazing job!

[@MackeyBigBoy4014]

Can't wait to hear this whistle again after a decade and a half of being silent.

[@danielmckinney5527]

First Sierra No.3, and Now Union Pacific 3985!

[@Challenger3985Productions]

6:27 3985's whistle performs as it should

[@cozmolikeytrainz]

yooo up3368 back at it again!!

[@Elavator66]

Another whistle rebuild woo-hoo!

[@snoapyfluff]

3985s whistle is actually big boy 4004s whistle

[@CoreytheATSFConnie]

Yeah, I think 4004’s whistle may have been removed and replaced with the original whistle before the 90’s

[@snoapyfluff]

@@CoreytheATSFConnie 4004 has a dummy whistle on it i think i saw it in a article tho i cant remember the site

[@KeijiSuwa]

The whistle isn’t the only part of 4004 that’s on 3985. They also took the Elesco cold water turbine pump and Nathan water injector from 4004.

[@snoapyfluff]

@@KeijiSuwa yeah i heard they also have parts of 4004 on 4014 too

[@thunderbird1921]

A number of UP 4004's parts have been removed over the years. The engine internally from what I've heard is in bad shape and will almost certainly never run again. So it does make sense for 3985 and 4014 to have it as a parts source where possible.

[@kellys.6047]

Beautiful ❤🚂🚂🚂🚂❤️

[@AnotherChannel1230]

And I forgot to mention that Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 currently is wearing Challenger 3985’s tender that has been renumbered to 4014. They are both restoring the 3985 locomotive itself and the original tender from 4014. Once 4014’s original tender is restored and converted to oil, they will put it back on 4014. 3985 however will also be restored to operation and the current tender on 4014 will be renumbered to 3985 and will be put back on that restored challenger. UP 2-10-2 5511 and DDA40X Centennial 6936 will also be restored back to operation soon. I hope The Living Legend 844 returns soon too. And I hope to hear 3985’s restored whistle if it’s mounted on her as well. I will never forget the sounds of an actual UP Hancock Longbell 3 chime and not some dumb vacuum cleaner sounding whistle from 2010.

[@MackeyBigBoy4014]

Union Pacific 6936 is oppositional.

[@AnotherChannel1230]

@@MackeyBigBoy4014 How do you know? I thought 6936 wasn’t in operational condition yet!

[@MackeyBigBoy4014]

@@AnotherChannel1230 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGWncpWVgrKdbdEsi=LAySXJXlkY8binBE

[@LukeLovesTrains-Mr.RailYard]

nice

[@ChargerusPrime]

My God.. imagine what that roar will sound like on 300 PSI steam pressure. I wonder if you guys could make clones of Rick Yager's northern pacific 3 chime that 4449 wore for like 20 years. I'd buy one myself from y'all just to have that deep throaty roar.

[@MackeyBigBoy4014]

3985 has 280 psi steam pressure.

[@ChargerusPrime]

@@MackeyBigBoy4014 close enough

[@mumumaaaah]

Hi there are you going to make more videos more often

[@mr.sir.]

Wonder when 5511 will get her turn

[@Wiseguy1408]

WEll DONE!!!

[@geomodelrailroader]

#3985 has his voice restored soon the whistle will be mated to the boiler and in a few months Alex will preform the Hydro and we will hear #3985 bark once again.

[@joshmeister4449]

I always heard and thought the whistle 3985 currently has was an Illinois Central 3 chime? Wasn't that something Steve Lee talked about at one point?

[@kazanu23]

3985 wore an IC 3 Chime for a little in the 90s, I think it was from Steve's own personal collection of railroad memorabilia. Was taken off some time after, being that it was a personal item and not the original mandated 3 chime.

[@joshmeister4449]

@@kazanu23 thats what I thought but wasnt 100% sure

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

Would anyone happen to know the chamber lengths for a Southern Railway long-bell 3 chime? I’m trying to design a custom replica.

[@ItstheBreadMan]

what about 5511’s whistle?

[@ticearpey3235]

That one’s a five chime I believe. Maybe they can restore that whistle too.

[@EngineerDaylight]

I doubt 5511s whistle would need any work done to it. It hasn't blown in decades & is fairly new due to that

[@paytongauthier6452]

They said yes it will be restored when the time comes

[@jamesm6638]

@@EngineerDaylight there's no guarantee that it was in good condition when retired, the engine was 35 years old the last time it ran, and who knows the last time the whistle had been worked on, or swapped out for another that may not have been in great condition either.

[@caydenworley5002]

So does that mean it’ll be fitted to an engine for testing?

[@CoreytheATSFConnie]

It was fitted for Mccloud 18 at the end

[@CoreytheATSFConnie]

And also could you try and fix SP 4449’s 1990’s whistle that was removed in 2012?

[@AtTheCrossingProductions]

Love that whistle, but I’m not sure where it ended up. I also think that’s an NP whistle, not an SP whistle

[@T128Productions]

@@AtTheCrossingProductions Wherever it is located, that whistle definitely needs to be restored.

[@cowcatcherstudios5759]

It is a Northern Pacific Hancock 3 chime off of one of their Z-6 Challengers. The whistle was owned by a train crew member of the 4449, and put it on once and Doyle liked it so much that it stayed on the engine. Nowadays it wears an actual SP Hancock 3 chime off of a GS-3.

[@JOEMAMA_534]

@@T128ProductionsIt’s owned by Dick Yager’s widow

[@jacobenyart4075]

@@cowcatcherstudios5759 Her original Whistle is no longer with us I assume?

[@Jimboliah3985]

As much as I love 3985, allow me to be the first person here to be a bit doubtful about the sound. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it sounds when it's actually attached to the Challenger, because its sound from the early 90s is *goat status.*

[@brendangranger3684]

It sounds less powerful in the recording because the engine they tested it on operates at a much lower boiler pressure than 3985.

[@pvtimberfaller]

Where would I find drawing for a Hancock 3 chime?

[@jamesm6638]

UPHS used to sell drawing DVD's for the large steam classes so that would probably have what you need, if you can find a copy on ebay.

[@CoreytheATSFConnie]

And make a new Reading Brass 6 Chime for D&RGW 489

[@KenHer3500]

Drawings?

[@T128Productions]

By “drawings” they are talking about “blueprints,” not a child’s drawing.

[@overpoweredsteamproduction513]

No, way.

[@T128Productions]

Yes, way! 😁