Question:

Is it possible to obtain plans for steam whistles that don't exist (in great number or at all) and have them custom manufactured?

I'm assuming Nathan or other manufacturers had a standard catalog that was selected.

Specifically, I would like to hear the type of whistle that was on a Lehigh Valley 4-8-4 or a CNJ Pacific.

Possible? Way to difficult? Thoughts?

superheater@rrmail.com

> Question:

> Is it possible to obtain plans for steam
> whistles that don't exist (in great number
> or at all) and have them custom
> manufactured?

> I'm assuming Nathan or other manufacturers
> had a standard catalog that was selected.

> Specifically, I would like to hear the type
> of whistle that was on a Lehigh Valley 4-8-4
> or a CNJ Pacific.

> Possible? Way to difficult? Thoughts?
Not difficult, just expensive. Find the whistle you like, take it apart and from the parts make patterns and core boxes to reproduce the cast parts.
Allow for shrinkage and leave enough metal on the castings for machining allowances.
Draw and reproduce the parts machined from solid stock like the valve stem.
Have the valve springs made.
Now for the fun part, a respectable locomotive whistle may have a 2" pipe connection, so you will need a rather large boiler to test and ajust your brand new whistle, no you can not use a air compresser and tank, you want to test your steam whistle with steam.
No reason why with dedication it could not be done.

http://www.themachineryworks.com
hgorin@ix.netcom.com

There was a webpage called "Voice of the Iron Horse" that had a lot of info on restoring and building steam whistles. I believe that site evolved into the Yahoo group at the link below.

You might be able to get some more detailed information there.

Regards,
Hugh

> Question:

> Is it possible to obtain plans for steam
> whistles that don't exist (in great number
> or at all) and have them custom
> manufactured?

> I'm assuming Nathan or other manufacturers
> had a standard catalog that was selected.

> Specifically, I would like to hear the type
> of whistle that was on a Lehigh Valley 4-8-4
> or a CNJ Pacific.

> Possible? Way to difficult? Thoughts?


Yahoo Horn & Whistle Group
whodom2001@yahoo.com

> Question:

> Is it possible to obtain plans for steam
> whistles that don't exist (in great number
> or at all) and have them custom
> manufactured?

> I'm assuming Nathan or other manufacturers
> had a standard catalog that was selected.

> Specifically, I would like to hear the type
> of whistle that was on a Lehigh Valley 4-8-4
> or a CNJ Pacific.

> Possible? Way to difficult? Thoughts?

The Wilmington & Western had a whistle from an LV 4-8-4 on their #98 for some years. I don't know if it's still around, but it was a wonderful deep steamboat chime.


K4s1361@hotmail.com

> Not difficult, just expensive.

Concur with the above. Although whistles have been "kitbashed" from remnant parts or even plumbing parts cobbled together, to *accurately* replicate, say, a PRR passenger whistle or Reading G3 whistle will cost almost as much as purchasing the whistle on an exorbitantly-inflated market--on the order of thousands. Also, these whistles involve more precision than you might think--a difference of a few millimeters could be the difference between a beautiful moan and an ugly screech.

Plans for some whistles have been located and copied; I might be able to ask some of the nation's whistle authorities if plans for your chosen whistles have surfaced. I know we have plans for a PRR passenger whistle, and a quick perusal of old Loco Cyclopedias may turn up enough usable info as well.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

For that matter, are there many existing sources for trolley air whistles? The trombone sound coming from a CA&E wood car comes to mind. What about air whistle valves? I recall that some "steam locomotive" reproduction air whistles have been available in aluminum for years.

SACRAMENTO INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION FACILITY

And for that matter, I wish there was a source for reproduction Hancock 4700 air whistles for use on diesel locomotives. I have always wanted one for our railroad museum to mount(in a way that it can be easily removed for safer keeping!) on one of our 7 preserved diesels.

If anyone knows of anything, I would love to hear about it.

Thanks!

Until later,
Chris



Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
crhauf@frontiernet.net

> Concur with the above. Although whistles
> have been "kitbashed" from remnant
> parts or even plumbing parts cobbled
> together, to *accurately* replicate, say, a
> PRR passenger whistle or Reading G3 whistle
> will cost almost as much as purchasing the
> whistle on an exorbitantly-inflated
> market--on the order of thousands. Also,
> these whistles involve more precision than
> you might think--a difference of a few
> millimeters could be the difference between
> a beautiful moan and an ugly screech.

> Plans for some whistles have been located
> and copied; I might be able to ask some of
> the nation's whistle authorities if plans
> for your chosen whistles have surfaced. I
> know we have plans for a PRR passenger
> whistle, and a quick perusal of old Loco
> Cyclopedias may turn up enough usable info
> as well.

Alexander is right. During WW2 when Wayne Johnston began to become a force in IC management
the IC made whistles in the Paducah Shop that were
patterned after the river steamboat whistles. I
had moved out of town for about 2 years and when we moved back the oldest daughter, 9,wanted to know what was wrong with the man in the engine, he sounded like he had sore throat.
They finally got the whistles so they sounded
pretty good, but with the IC having an engineering department and their own foundry and machine shop to work with, that should give you an idea of the problem.

Jim

steamnut@charter.net