I visited the old home place over the weekend, and while cleaning out the workshop, decided to bring back this little jewel. It was given to me 20 years ago, and reputedly came off a NO&NE (nee CNO&TP) 2-6-0.

The actuating lever is an unfinished attempt to make a replacement, and isn't heavy enough to hold the valve closed. So before having a proper one made, I thought I'd post here and see if anyone has one that would work, or knows where I might look?

Also, I'd like to find an acorn for the 7/8" post.

JAC

Don't worry John - the pressure in the boiler will hold the valve closed.

dave

Yes, but the existing lever probably won't work, and worse than that it's ugly. Still need (well, want) a new one.

JAC

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John,

The bowl and valve are not like ANY I have ever seen on a Sou. RY or CNOTP loco. The bowl is squared like a NANTHAN however, I have never seen that long of a thread or that style valve piece in a NATHAN. The bell does look NATHAN'ish with its slightly domed top.

You are right about the lever. It is not only unattractive, it is dysfunctional, as there is no eye at the end of the lever for a rope, cable or other device to pull on the valve.

There also appears to be a "stop" pin in the body of the valve to keep the valve from dropping out should you remove the lever. Make sure this is not interfering with the valve closing. The bell should also be about 2" above the edge of the bowl as well.

There is a picture of a Nathan 6 chime on the yahoo group for steam whistles. You might want to look at that and use it for reference. While having a lever made, you might want to go ahead and have an adapter made to convert it from boiler thread to NPT. Make sure that it is large enough internally, and long enough so that the valve does not bottom out when you open it, by hitting against something, and also allowing the steam to go aroung the valve and up into the whistle.

You could have a N&W "monkey tail" style lever like 1218 had. They are near next to impossible to open without a lot of mechanical linkage and advantage.

Mark

Careful John - if you start eliminating ugly things that don't work, where would that leave many of us?

I see some dimensions on yout diagram, but not enough to knock out a lever that will actually fit, except by fortunate accident. Probably if you take the whistle down to SERM, Andrew could knock out a working lever pretty quick.

dave

You may be right. It was a gift from James Carlisle of the Mississippian. Once when we were looking for something at his home, he just off-handedly offered it to me. I have no reason to distrust him, but he might have confused it with another whistle.

There's no number stamped anywere, but "FGW 11-8-37" is stamped inside the bell - at least, that's what it looks like to me.

Thanks for the other tips, and thanks to Sandy for posting this at the Yahoo Group.

JAC

You're going to be a while topping that one, Dave ;)


I bow to the master.

JAC