PRR T-1 Whistle

[Lost World]

Thanks to all for your input!

[PBenham]

I have heard the whistle off I1sa 4483, using compressed air, and it is a passenger whistle based on  my memory of the whistle on the PRR 1223, which I recall hearing on the Strasburg. That bugger is, well, LOUD!

[feltonhill]

My limited experience with whistles indicates that if it is in good shape, the entire chord (in this case three notes) will drop proportionally as the pressure is lowered by "tailing" the whistle. So with the PRR whistle, which is approximately a first position D minor chord (d-f-a) or maybe E minor, it may drop a half step or whole step depending on the degree of control you can exercise on the valve.  However, if the whistle is not in proper adjustment, almost anything can happen.

A good example of this, on another loco, is the N&W single note hooter.  If opened suddenly (a good yank on the cord can sometimes do it), you can get it to chirp or squeak at the beginning.  In an extreme case, it can break into and sustain a harmonic and you get the sound illustrated on Winston Link's "Great WhistleStorm."

[Lost World]

I'm assuming the standard passenger whistle would have sounded just like the one on the K-4.  Thanks for the help.  Went back and listened to the recording again.  The CD is Sounds of Steam on the Curve, and the I-1 on the work train is the track just before the T-1.  You're right, the I-1 has one hell of a shriek whistle!  But the more I listen to the T-1, the more I'm beginning to think that short whistling sound is just feedback due to primitive recording equipment, though the overall recording is quite good.

You mentioned the whistles had three chimes, and could overblow and screech.  Were the different chimes activated by adjusting the whistle itself before setting off, or could it be blown to different chimes simply by applying differing pressure on the whistle cord (or lever)? 

[feltonhill]

The T1 had a standard PRR 3-chime passenger whistle.  The Broadway sound clip is close, sounding something like PRR 1223 or 7002 at Strasburg years ago.  Depending on the condition of the whistle, it would sound all three notes as intended, or one one or more of the notes could overblow and shriek.  Harmonics are a peculiar thing.

On the recording I think your're referring to, it's actually an I1 after it passes the recording location.  It has at least one note out of wack.  PRR freight whistles were a small single note whistle that could sound a relatively high note or just plain screech!  This is where the description "peanut whistle" fits.

[selector]

If the Quantum Sound Industries version is anything near accurate (and I believe they made serious attempts to use prototypical sounds for their model decoders) you can hear what the T1 sounded like at Broadway Limited Imports' website.  Just follow the link and click on the link on the page that says sound samples.

http://www.broadway-limited.com/products/PRRT1.htm

[Lost World]

Can anyone tell me what the whistle on a T-1 sounded like, or better yet supply some info on where I might get a recording?  I have a recording of one rounding Horseshoe Curve in the late forties, and for a very brief moment--quarter second or so--I think there's a whistle, a brief acknowledgement to the sound recorder perhaps.  It's hard to say; it could also have been a fault or feedback in the wire recording.  Either way, it's a shrieking sound, kind of like what was labeled a "peanut wagon" whistle in the old days.  A sound like that would carry very far I would think...a beneficial safety precaution on such a fast locomotive.  Any help provided is greatly appreciated.