Of all the sounds of a locomotive, One of my favorites is the air pump running. It always amazes me how much sound a compound air pump makes on an engine.

adofmsu@aol.com

I agree! The same is true, for me, about the sound of the air pump on electric streetcars and interurbans - there's nothing else like it!

I remember when I knew very little about steam locomotives and would watch movies with steam engines - usually westerns. Could never figure out why there was still a "chugging" sound after the train came to a stop. Of course it was (and is) the air pump, working hard to restore the air pressure after the brakes had been used.

Dick

I recall watching a cartoon from the 1930's (on able of course) and the hero was being chased by a huge bull who caught up with him and loomed over him snorting - exactly like a cross-compound air pump!


The Electric City Trolley Museum Association

> I recall watching a cartoon from the 1930's
> (on able of course) and the hero was being
> chased by a huge bull who caught up with him
> and loomed over him snorting - exactly like
> a cross-compound air pump!

LOL!!! HEY YOR SO RIGHT! It was a Bugs Bunny cartoon the bull runs up to him and stops just before hitting him with steam comming out of the bull's nose, and Bugs slaps him on the face and says "Stop steamin' up my tail! Whataya tryin' to do wrinkle it!"

I never realized until you mentioned it that its the sound of an air pump on a steam loco!

Boy us steam guys do think alike!

Alan


adofmsu@aol.com

Didn't he say his tail was made of cotton? Sounded like a copyright conflict with another rabbit.

Ray

> Didn't he say his tail was made of cotton?
> Sounded like a copyright conflict with
> another rabbit.

> Ray

Hey Guys; Don't forget the duet! Usually when the air pump was sounding off it was accompanied by
the high pitched whine of the dynamo. I didn't
realize how much the sound of their duet identified the steam locomotive until one day late in 1958 when I was passing thru the roundhouse and heard that welcome sound out on the ready track. I hurried out there
and sure enough one of our big engines was under steam. Right now I don't remember the engine number but I sure do remember how welcome that sound was.
Jim

rrfanjim@mvn.net

> I recall watching a cartoon from the 1930's
> (on able of course) and the hero was being
> chased by a huge bull who caught up with him
> and loomed over him snorting - exactly like
> a cross-compound air pump!

"Bully for Bugs" Warner Brothers Looney Tunes (as opposed to Merrie Melodies) released on August 8, 1953. The diesel era was well underway, but obviously director Chuck Jones felt that a good number of folks in his audience would still relate to the sound of the air pump. In addition to studying the railroad, Warner Brothers cartoons are another serious hobby for me!
Don C.

old_fxrs@msn.com