Does anybody know what type of whistle was REALLY used on the C & O "Allegheny" H8 locomotive? I've seen several videos on the Allegheny, but all seem to depict different whistles! (I'm sure the sound was dubbed, from who-knows-what). Even the models of sound-equipped locos seem to have different opinions on the whistle. Does anybody alive today really know for sure??
Mike C.
It sounded a lot like the hooooooooooooooooter on the N&W's Y6 series and on their Class A 2-6-6-4.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/83385.aspx
Comment: Twice now the above link has gone hot when I press enter, but it is a dead link that appears. Dunno why...sorry.
I should know, but don't, who has the appropriate AMC or Lima detail drawings for the whistle (or details if it is common to other C&O power). It is possible that someone at the Henry Ford or B&O collections can give you the information relative to 1601 and 1604 respectively. I would find it highly strange if no one had conducted a 'whistle blow' with a surviving Allegheny whistle even if none of the '50s-era recordings are reliable.
MTH's Allegheny has a "hooter" type whistle, but not the same as the A. I wonder where they got their idea... Some sound-equipped models have all kinds of multiple-chime whistles in them! A lot of them are O gauge, so I don't have a lot of faith in their accuracy. After all, if you wanted accuracy, you wouldn't have three rails...!
Thing is, many preserved, and even operational, steam locos have had their original whistles sold of, or outright stolen (along with other removable bits like builder's plates and so forth - the type of 'rainfans' who give everyone a bad name), and so what's fitted today, and recorded today, may not be anything like what was on the loco in service. Same with diesel horns even. I've ridden on a trip pulled by a 44 tonner that had some sort of multi-chime horn from an Erie locomotive fitted in place of the standard single note honker.
Some collectors may blow whistles, but usually with compressed air. It's not exactly the same sound you'd get out of it using live steam. But far more accurate than some multi-chime model on a loco that ran a steamboat type whistle.
I can see why anyone owning such equipment is reluctant to loan it out to be used on an actual locoo - parts like horns, number boards, and builder's plates have disappeared off locos in active service, let alone at some tourist railroad where the loco might sit outside. I know on one fan trip I road, the sponsors had volunteers camp out overnight where the locos were parked to make sure nothing came up missing, because those same locos had their horns stolen overnight a few years back.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
This is a C&O single chime operated on steam. Actual whistle was from a 2-6-6-2 however.
http://trainweb.org/hoboshornsounds/horn2.wav
Some claim the 2-6-6-6 whistle would have been somewhat higher in pitch. The following is also a C&O whistle, but I don't know from which locomotive class.http://trainweb.org/hoboshornsounds/horn1.wavThis is a video of a video that accompanies the Allegheny on display at the Henry Ford Museum. The 2-6-6-6 whistle can be heard (barely) at the beginning. Matches well the first example I linked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz14zIBWspA
Wow, that first one is "SPOOKY"! I want to put sound in my Allegheny, and I want THAT whistle! Who's got it??