Steam Whistles

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Where on the net can I find how a Southern Steam locomotives. How many chime whistle did they have. I was told that the whistle that was used on the N&W 611 was a Southern whistle and what locomotive did it come off of. I think that the 4501 also use a boat whistle for a while. What type did the 722 use? Are there any Southern Whisles still floating aroud. I would like to get my hand on one but there are a lot of money.

-- Greg (Southern4501@hotmail.com), April 29, 2001

Answers

Actually, 611 wore her original whistle, I believe. There is actually a company that makes replicas of the whistle off of a SR Ps-4. The Link is http://boothmanandjohnson.com/default.asp . Hope this helps. Good Luck to ya!

-- Hayes Smith Jr. (drummerdude125@yahoo.com), May 01, 2001.

When 4501 came to the NHRS convention in Richmond Va in 1966 (as I recall) she entered town running backwards since they weren't sure she could be turned. (THey found out she could). Anyway, Walter Dove was the engineer. On Saturday morning I had a Webcor tape recorder running as I stood on the tracks (almost literally!) with a sign for whistle.)

THe sound I got was very good! My understanding at the time was that the Smithsonian was still working on the 1401 exhibit and the whistle had been put on 4501 so they could record it. It is unlike any other whistle I ever heard on 4501 through the years. Also Dove knew what he was doing!

Anyway, to finish, I digitized this and as I recall it was posted in the compuserve sound files for years. It might still be there. If there is a place to upload it here I might be able to find it. I'd rather upload it to a site so that I don't have to keep filling requests.

-- southern railway n Scale (southernry_n@hotmail.com), May 16, 2001.


Try uploading it to the Southern Railway e-group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/southern_railway . They have a few whistle files, and i believe that one includes a clip of 4501 carrying the 1401's whistle. They could always have room for more.

-- Hayes Smith Jr. (drummerdude125@yahoo.com), May 17, 2001.

oh, the Great Smokey Mountain Railway was running a Ps-4 whistle on its 1702 when i last was there last, in september 2000. now that they have the 722 they would be a place to ask. www.gsr.com , goodluck!

-- Evan Whatley (fwhatley@bignet.net), May 21, 2001.

DOW! thats www.gsmr.com (sorry)

-- Evan Whatley (fwhatley@bignet.net), May 21, 2001.


Greg Dodd made a Ps-4 whistle for the 1702, but there wont be much you can find out about it on the website. I doubt that you will be able to get your hands on a original Southern Railway Steamboat Whistle, and if you can, it would be hard to trace its authenticity. I know of several companys and groups that make replicas, but they charge high-dollar for them. Hope this helps somewhat, and good luck!

-- Hayes Smith Jr. (drummerdude125@yahoo.com), May 23, 2001.

If anyone is still following this thread, here's your chance to hear a true Southern Railway whistle. The owner of the Southern long-bell off of Ts 4-8-2 #1472 has generously agreed to allow its use on Georgia Power 0-6-0 #97 at the Southeastern Railway Museum. The date is Saturday, May 17, 2003.

Andrew Durden Curator of Locomotives Southeastern Railway Museum

-- Andrew Durden (gapower97@yahoo.com), May 05, 2003.


The whistle on the 611 whistle is a Hancock long bell "steamboat" minor 3-chime whistle. It is not the original one but one like it. The original whistle is in a private collection. A friend of mine provided the replacement. Its worth noting that its the same J whistle used on NKP 759 on May 1, 1971 when it pulled the last run of the Pocahontas on the N&W before Amtrak took over. I'm looking for a Hancock myself. It doesn't have to be one modified by the N&W. Any help? Thanks

-- Steve Sharpe (HANCOCKK5LA@HOTMAIL.COM), October 25, 2004.

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