What type of whistle did the Big Boys carry and was it unique to them? I'm looking to purchased a CD with Big Boy sounds, anyone have suggestions? Also, is there a digital file available online of a Big Boy whistle?

Joshua

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGp00Q_gzsU

According to the description of this video, UP 844 is carrying a big boy whistle (basically the same as what it and 3985 normally use as far as I can tell)

According to the authorities of steam whistles, including my friend Ed Fagen (author of "The Engine's Moan: American Steam Whistles"), the whistle in question is a standard stock Hancock "long-bell" three-chime step-top whistle, sounding A-C-E in an A-minor triad in root position in a low register. The standard design was also used extensively on other UP steamers, as well as the Illinois Central, Western Maryland, Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western, and others--which, of course, have led to the classic situation of "Of 25 steam whistles carried by 25 UP Big Boys, 150 are in collectors' hands......"

I can point out that even an identical whistle fitted to different locomotives can sound different, due to variables in steam pressure, flow through the valves and pipes, placement on the locomotive, temperature of the steam, and more. Hancock (later Manning, Maxwell & Moore) even had two different variations, one for saturated and one for superheated steam. I have heard recordings of UP Big Boys where the whistle sounds lower and almost lethargic, compared to this 60-mph dash seen in the YouTube video, but we can also attribute that to lower-fidelity recording technology (wire recorders, anyone?).

Try Jay Winn:

http://www.vintagerailroadaudio.com/

Tell him Dave Notarius sent you!

Here is a sample of one meant to be blown on saturated steam vs. the 300 PSI stamped high pressure version. Compare it to what you might hear on recent recording of the 844.

This is one is being blown at 200-210 PSI, but won't bark much when it gets down to 175 or so...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m9Ur2VAQ_s