Train Horn Piano – Perry Rylance

No more horns 😔

Posted on January 2, 2023 by perry

Unfortunately my train horn piano project is now over and done. The train horn piano was destroyed in a shed fire last Autumn, it’s beyond any kind of recovery and I have no intention of building another one mainly due…

Pneumatic day

Posted on January 29, 2022 by perry

I’ve now got all the parts for the Train Horn Piano and am finalising the build. The horn rack is assembled, all my compression chambers are assembled with the diaphragms cut and inserted, all that’s left to do now is…

Overblowing

Posted on January 1, 2022 by perry

Further progress is being made with the train horn piano. I’ve cut a pipe for the low E2 and for the E3 an octave above that and tested these out with the new battery and rig. Unfortunately, my E2 is…

Building the frame

Posted on December 19, 2021 by perry

My train horn piano needs a frame on which the horns and other components can sit. I’ve grabbed some lengths of slotted angle iron and given them a lick of yellow Hammerite. I have a 12v 110Ah lead acid deep…

First successful air horn test!

Posted on December 14, 2021 by perry

I’m very pleased to have successfully sound tested my prototype air horn / train horn for the first time! Using a (poor quality) test battery, we were able to get the air tank up to 40PSI, the hardware is rated…

Air Horn Piano control module

Posted on October 18, 2021 by perry

I’ve mostly completed the “brain” for my air horn piano! The hardware consists of a 12v fuse box, 12v USB sockets, Raspberry Pi, adjustable 12v to 5v step-down regulator, and 16-channel 5v relay board. If you are reading and considering…

Air Horn Piano

Posted on September 19, 2021 by perry

My project, working title “Air Horn Piano” is something I’ve pondered on and vaguely planned for many, many years now. I’ve recently come across a 3D printable train horn design which can be easily tuned by adjusting the length of…