Mafarnz YouTube Update July 2023 MaFarnz 2023-07-03 | I know my channel has been slow for a while. A long while. Just a few quick updates for folks who subscribe.
Yakima Valley Traction Cab Ride in Freight Motor 298 MaFarnz 2023-06-05 | The highlight of the day was cab rides being offered inside freight motor 298. These were offered as a fundraiser for the restoration of a bad traction motor the unit has, it was only running on one truck this day.
YVT Along Pine St MaFarnz 2023-01-06 | Yakima Valley Trollies (Transportation) running along Pine St. We see several locations, one just half a block from the car barn gives a tight cramped industrial feel, and is a good look at this lines freight hauling past. Another shows a busy intersection at Pine and 5th, where crews must flag freight trains across. Lastly the end of track at Pine and 11th, a quite neighborhood. Here we see trolley 1976 and motor 298 doing various runs throughout the day.
Mafarnzs third horn honk rig with an S3J MaFarnz 2022-12-27 | After my Honda Accord failed (slipped timing belt and bent valves) I got a new vehicle, a 2007 Toyta Camry hybrid. It took several months but I did get the horn system set up on the new vehicle, and took it for a test run.
YVT Morning Departures MaFarnz 2022-12-12 | Yakima Valley Trollies celebrated the 100th birthday of their freight motor by running it for the first time in over a decade. Here trolley 1976 and the motor depart the barn for the day.
Last Days of the Old Rig Out with a 3K MaFarnz 2022-10-22 | Part of the reason for the lack of horn content recently was the death of my old vehicle in early 2022. To date (October 2022) I still haven't gotten the rack and valve mounted to my new rig. Still working on that.Last horn on the old Accord was a BNSF H1 green RS3K. Fitting.
Pullman Depot Days 2022 Horn Display MaFarnz 2022-08-19 | Some locomotive air horns that would have been heard in Pullman Washington over the years on the NP & BN
Coast Starlight Arriving Portland Oregon MaFarnz 2022-07-18 | Northbound Amtrak Coast Starlight arriving at Portland Union Station.
2nd Gen Prime 920 MaFarnz 2022-04-03 | I've been looking for a good sounding Prime 920 (so not a 3rd gen) for a while now. A friend of mine was offering his for sale and I took the opportunity. Don't know the history of this one, other than the bells are second generation. This horn is very easy and predictable to get to squeal, so is a lot of fun to play around with.
Aspen Pond Sumpter Valley Railway 2021 MaFarnz 2022-02-20 | Probable my favorite spot along the Sumpter Valley Railway is the dredge pond bordered by aspen trees just outside Sumpter. Here are two runbys from the 2021 photographers day.
Sumpter Valley Railway Double Header 2021 MaFarnz 2022-02-15 | A frequently requested scene at the Sumpter Valley Railway photographers day event is a double header. While I personally find it a bit strange to do this with a rod and geared locomotive, it is non the less cool to see.
Rock Cut Runbys Sumpter Valley Ry 2021 MaFarnz 2022-01-19 | About the best sun of the day happened early mornign at the rock cut runbys. Here #19 and the Heisler do the honors as they do every year.
Blow Downs Across the Pond Sumpter Valley Ry MaFarnz 2022-01-13 | Two runbys with blow downs, across a high mountain pond. Sumpter Valley Photographer Day 2021.
Rainy Hawley Spur Runbys 2021 MaFarnz 2021-12-13 | Even with dreary weather, this location doesn't disappoint! Two runbys from the 2021 Photographers Day.
Photo Charter Etiquette MaFarnz 2021-12-01 | Have some situational awareness while at a photo charter. If you can see the lens of a camera, then you are in somebody's shot!
Spokane Spangle And Palouse Railway One Hopper South MaFarnz 2021-11-15 | Spokane Spangle and Palouse Railway had just finished moving some loaded propane tank cars into their storage yard near Spangle WA. Afterword they took the buffer car and headed south to do other work. Here are a few views of the train in and around Spangle. Of interest the third locomotive is a former Kennecott Copper high cab GP39-2.
UP Manifest At Kamela OR Blues Summit Oct 2021 MaFarnz 2021-11-10 | On the way back home from a photo trip a friend and I caught a westbound UP manifest cresting the summit of the Blue Mountains at Kamela. It was raining and I didn't have my big camera and tripod set up, so I took video clips with my phone instead.
Late 1980s Burlington Northern RS3L MaFarnz 2021-09-12 | Another one for my BN collection! Late 80's RS3L. Nothing too special but it sounds good.
Fall 2021 Horn Honk with Chris Smith MaFarnz 2021-08-28 | My friend Chris Smith came over for a short visit and brought with him his 1963 ex GM&O S5T. So we grabbed a few other things and had a mini horn honk.1952 Leslie S3J: 0:10Old Cast P3: 1:081952 M3: 2:021988 RS3K: 2:481963 S5T: 3:47
Puget Sound & Pacific Switching in Aberdeen WA MaFarnz 2021-08-25 | While on my way to visit a friend elsewhere I stumbled across a PS&P GP38 doing some switching. SO of course had to take some video. Don't know much about this operation.
Scenic Snake River Canyon MaFarnz 2021-05-25 | Spring is a wonderful time to be in the Snake River canyon. The hills are still green, its not yet 100 degrees and the air is calm leading to a calm river. It was a great day to chase the GRNW Ayer turn.My friend was at the throttle, and having fun playing with the horn.
Snake River Grade Crossings MaFarnz 2021-05-23 | Between the Clearwater River bridge in Lewiston Idaho and Wawawai County Park there are only two major grade crossings that trains of the Great Northwest Railroad must contend with. They are both located in the Snake River canyon, making for some awesome horn echoes.
Ayer Turn Getting up to Speed MaFarnz 2021-05-22 | After picking up a few crew members, the Great Northwest Ayer Turn throttles up and begins its fast 40 MPH run down the Snake River.
GRNW Departing Lewiston MaFarnz 2021-05-21 | Great Northwest Railway Ayer turn departing Lewiston Idaho.
Pacing the GRNW Ayer Turn MaFarnz 2021-05-20 | Short pacing video, shot with a GoPro using an external microphone. Great Northwest Railway's Ayer turn headed downriver from Lewiston Idaho. Two SD40-2 and two two GP40-2LW's dead in consist.
Snow Cone Brackets and Mounting Cones K5 MaFarnz 2021-04-30 | The process of making brackets for snow cones, and mounting the cones on a K5
Widefont Tagless K5LA post Cones Install MaFarnz 2021-04-05 | This K5 was sent to me by a friend to have snow cones put on it. It has an interesting story. It was made in the late 1980's, and never used in railroad service. It was purchased new by a person that had a locomotive cab in their backyard. It passed from that person to my friend.
Make New Leslie RS Diffuser Ring MaFarnz 2020-12-31 | After picking up an RS chamber without a diffuser ring, I needed a way to make one since I didn't have any spares. A prefect time to use the bad S rings that I had been saving.
ATSF Santa Fe GP35 S3L MaFarnz 2020-12-28 | Dirty but you can easily tell what color this is! I was very excited to pick up an original Santa Fe yellow S3L at the end of 2020. I guess there were a few good moments that year...Mixed parts S3L, most likely off a GP35.
SD70Ms on Joso Trestle MaFarnz 2020-11-02 | It used to be almost every train on the UP system had an SD70M on it. All the sudden they started disappearing. So I was surprised to see a set of them leading a manifest train across Joso trestle. Commentary provided by my out of breath friends and myself.
Northbound Trains on Joso Trestle MaFarnz 2020-10-29 | A couple of afternoon northbound trains on the huge Joso trestle.
PCC Light Locomotives with ex CNW GP50 MaFarnz 2020-08-21 | Was out for a drive on a Saturday evening, didn't bring my cameras because why would anything be running? Come to find out the PCC was moving some light locomotives into Endicott WA. An ex Chicago & North Western GP50 leads the pack, with a working nose gong bell. Videos were taken with my phone hand held, so apologizes for the shakiness.
P11234 Request MaFarnz 2020-08-20 | This is an old cast P5 that has bells 1, 1, 2, 3, 4. Two #1 bells with no #5. This is supposed to sound similar to an M5.
Why did Pullman Depot Group Move two cars MaFarnz 2020-06-13 | A video to hopefully clear up some of the common questions about the railcar move that the depot group gets.facebook.com/Pullman-Depot-Heritage-Center-2243521322534234
Railcar Moving With a Little Help From My Friends MaFarnz 2020-06-13 | In late May 2020 the Pullman Depot Heritage Center was busy with contractors that were prepping and moving old railcars off what used to be the depot platform. Here the second coach to be moved is winding its way through narrow and steep mountain grades, and up a significant hill to get to the new owners property. When one truck isn't enough, its time to chain up another one (or two!)Score one for the chevy guys.
Old GN coach to its new home MaFarnz 2020-06-13 | In late May 2020 the Pullman Depot Heritage Center was busy with contractors that were prepping and moving old railcars off what used to be the depot platform. While the car was painted for Northern Pacific, it is actually ex Great Northern, sitting on CNW trucks.After several days were spent prepping the cars, jacking them up, removing the trucks and placing the cars on rubber wheel dollies, the big day arrived! Here the second car moved to its new home just 20 miles away from the Pullman Depot, to outside of Moscow Idaho. This video follows the car leaving Pullman, traveling to Moscow Idaho, through Moscow and on till it leaves the pavement of the highway.
Putting a Train Car on Rubber Wheels MaFarnz 2020-06-13 | In late May 2020 the Pullman Depot Heritage Center was busy with contractors that were prepping and moving old railcars off what used to be the depot platform.Here are a few views of the process of placing the cars onto rubber wheel dollies.
Prepping Railcars For Movement by Truck MaFarnz 2020-06-13 | In late May 2020 the Pullman Depot Heritage Center was busy with contractors that were prepping and moving old railcars off what used to be the depot platform.Here are a few views of the process of preparing the cars for jacking and placement onto rubber wheel dollies.
M5 Chip Tooth Full Air Runby MaFarnz 2020-05-23 | Here is the runby of the M5 from the previous three videos on a full tank of air. I'm very pleased with how it turned out!Part one, making diaphragms for the #1 bell.youtu.be/4EexNgvxwGoPart two, parts and anatomy:youtu.be/ZtspGb0P9VwPart three, voicing:youtu.be/0rCKQQA5034
M5 Horn Voicing (M5 Tuning) MaFarnz 2020-05-16 | Long awaited in my series of M horn maintenance videos. How to voice an M5. Often incorrectly called tuning, voicing sets the pressure that each bell speaks at. M horns, and all horns with adjustable back caps, can't simply be put together and expected to work, there is a careful process to voice the horn. On all M horns, the voicing must be done as the horn is assembled.Hopefully this illustrates why the M horns fell out of favor. While this video is about 15 minutes long, in real time it took me two hours to do this one horn. Keep in mind that in railroad service it was recommended to voice the horns every 3-6 months! The number of parts that were required plus the time involved in setting up just one horn shows why the M's, although arguably the best sounding ones out there, fell out of use in favor of less maintenance intensive horns that had fewer and simpler parts.Part one, making diaphragms for the #1 bell.youtu.be/4EexNgvxwGoPart two, parts and anatomy:youtu.be/ZtspGb0P9VwPart four, full air tank runby:youtu.be/CLxz9PHeD3QIf you want to see other good M horn voicing videos, check these out.youtu.be/69JrJcXW9wg A good demonstration of the shop tune method.youtu.be/Enrn9cmH1lY A good demonstration of the field tune method by the master himself, Ken Lanovich.
M Horn Anatomy and Parts MaFarnz 2020-05-13 | A video that walks through all the parts of an M horn, what the names and terminology is, and how everything goes together.This is part two of three. Part one, build new diaphragms:youtu.be/4EexNgvxwGoPart three, voicing.youtu.be/0rCKQQA5034Part four, full air tank runby:youtu.be/CLxz9PHeD3Q
Build a new diaphragm for M horn MaFarnz 2020-05-10 | So at the beginning of 2020 I picked up this M5 off ebay. It was sold at a pretty decent price, but when I got it I discovered that it was missing one of three diaphragms in the #1 bell. I looked all over but wasn't able to find a replacement, so I got the material and made my own. This is a 6" X 25" sheet. McMaster-Carr part # 9014K315 (accurate as of May 2020)This video is part one of three. Part two, parts and anatomy:youtu.be/ZtspGb0P9VwPart three, voicing.youtu.be/0rCKQQA5034Part four, full air tank runby:youtu.be/CLxz9PHeD3Q
1952 Leslie S3J MaFarnz 2020-04-06 | Leslie's first experiment with multichime horns was to group two or more Tyfon horns on a common manifold. This was not very successful, and so in 1951 Leslie licenced a design from Sweden, modified it a bit and introduced the Supertyfon line of horns. The first chords offered were the S3J and S5D. These horns sounded the same chord as the Nathan Airchime M3 and M5 respectively, and because of this Nathan threatened a lawsuit over copyright infringement. Bowing to pressure and also desiring to expand their offerings, Leslie redesigned the Supertyfon horns in early 1953, and unfortunately the S3J and S5D were disconnected. Beautiful sounding horns though they were.For even more info on the early Leslie horns, check out this video:youtu.be/oOMYHmaTMTs
Sumpter Valley Railway Steamy Early Morning Departure MaFarnz 2020-03-25 | Debated putting this one up or not, this video was taken with my phone. With steam leaking from every place imaginable, SVRY #19 departs McEwen westbound on a cold fall morning.Photographers Weekend 2019.
Horn Collector Social Distancing With a Leslie RS3K MaFarnz 2020-03-18 | It's March 2020, and COVID-19 is spreading fast. Recommendations are to distance from other people and self isolate, but I can still take horns out and make noise! I purchased this just a few days before the 50th anniversary of the BN merger. Mid 1980's RS3K , nothing super special about it but sounds great!
GoPro Under Sumpter Valley Ry Heisler MaFarnz 2020-03-03 | My second GoPro video from Sumpter Valley Railway, and the whole reason I brought the GoPro. The Heisler is a fascinating machine to watch in action. Built in 1915 it still burns wood.
GoPro Under Supmter Valley Ry 19 MaFarnz 2020-03-02 | Something I had always wanted to try since getting my GoPro. Need to find a location with a better view of the rods, but this turned out pretty good for a first try.
Leslie Three Digit Bells VS Two Digit Bells MaFarnz 2020-02-20 | A video comparing older bronze tab Leslie Supertyfon horns, in this case a 1952 S3J, and a correct for 1955 era S3L. A walk through of the major differences between the three digit Leslie horns, 1951 and 1952, and two digit horns, 1953 - today.
Canadian National Sand Cast K3L MaFarnz 2020-02-17 | In Canada the Airchime company did not cast its own horns, and for years had contract with the Holden Company to cats its horns. Holden made round base M3H's well into the 1960's, and sand cast K horns up till the late 1970's. Holden was well known for its attention to quality, and as a result all of their horns sound gorgeous, this one is no exception. Holden did a very good job keeping to exact specifications, as a result there is very little variation in the sound of the Holden K horns. Nathan Airchime, the American subsidiary, did things a little differently and as a result had things liek the scallop base M horns, and much greater variation in the sound of the K horns.This particular horn has a coat of black paint on top of primer. My guess it that it is ex Canadian National.
