Many moons ago in the 1980's, after the UP/MP merger the 844, excuse me 8444, was making a tour of the former MP Southern Region. The So Reg. General Manager was having a reception on the train and afterwards was talking to the steam crew. He asked the about the low water alarm and the crew said they had never heard it. The 8444 was pretty pampered and so never ran low on water. On the other hand the General Mgr. started telling stories about his days as a brakeman on the locals and having to stop over creeks and siphon water into the tenders when they ran out of water, and having to gather up chunks of old crossties and firewood when they ran out of coal. Never did hear anybody say what it sounded like.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
I was studying some loco photos the other day. At some arbitrary point i focussed on the 'low water alarm' on an old switcher that was sitting on a scrap line.
It got me to thinking. I know what it is, and what its use is, but in all my travels it finally dawned on me I have never heard one. We all hope these arent really ever heard from but i got curious....
Anyone know what one sounds like when its going off? Im sure it wasnt anything like a normal whistle, so as not to be confused as such. But it is a steam whistle never the less. Probably just a loud banshee screach im sure but..... ???
Also, i figured since these are safety devices (and pretty important ones too!) that they would be checked regulary. When testing alarms (which i have done before) the only way to test them accurately is to set them off.
Summizing that this would be done during servicing, it is an aspect I have never heard of in loco maintenance. Not one scrap of it being mentioned. You always see workmen working on wheels, rods, piping, grates, frames, brakes, etc etc, but narry a word on the water alarms.
Because of the way low water alarms work, id be fascinated to know this info. Anyone got some more info on this? Much obliged!
PM Railfan