blue streak 1 The only steam whistle ever heard on a diesel was the steam whistle installed on a SOU RR passenger e unit. When on front of SOU's Crescent not used often but when used was sweet. Believe it was only on one unit but cannot confirm ?
The only steam whistle ever heard on a diesel was the steam whistle installed on a SOU RR passenger e unit. When on front of SOU's Crescent not used often but when used was sweet. Believe it was only on one unit but cannot confirm ?
Can't speak to SOU, but I believe NH and possibly some other railroads used Hancock Air Chimes, which sound distinctly like a steam whistle (and they are, in fact, whistles).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5Z_2L17tVs
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
DeggestyEd, Larry, Carl, Balt, Zug, Jeff, anyone?
Whistle or horn - completely interchangable. I think the rulebook calls them horn signals, but don't quote me on that. I'd check, but it's in my locker. On newer engines, the lever/button has a picture of a little trumpet next to it.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
I've tried posting my biography, but it doesn't show up.
Maybe I'm doing something wrong?
You can call a whistle or a bell...."train coming".
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Oh, pardon my manners! Welcome to the Forum writesong!
That's one of the best "callsigns" on here! Post a biography of yourself so we can know you better!
As a die-hard steam freak I will NEVER refer to the noisemakers on top of a diesel locomotive as a whistle. It's not a whistle, it's a HORN.
Some of them sound pretty impressive, I'll admit, especially cuttin' through the air on a quiet night, but they're still horns.
But if someone wants to call 'em whistles, that's cool, I'm not doctrinaire.
I still miss the days of the steam whistle. Horns suck by comparison.There were engineers who could almost play a tune on them, and many could be recognized by what was their "signature" when using them. In the middle of the night an experienced engineer could make them sound as lonesome as could be. They were a joy to hear and I laid awake many nights wishing to hear them. Steam whistles rule when played porperly.
Norm
Horn is pretty much the accepted term, but whistle still pops up in various contexts - like the "whistle board," the sign on the ROW that indicates it's time to start sounding the horn/whistle for a crossing. Those signs still use a "W," not an "H."
Back in the day, we used to refer to the fire alarm in my old hometown as the "fire whistle," even though it was actually an air-raid style siren...
Don't worry about the purists. Sometimes they get a little carried away. Live and learn...
Oh, yes, writesong, welcome to the forums! I see you are not afraid to ask questions, and we are always to answer, helping others to understand this wonderful way of transportation.
Johnny
writesong Some time back, when I was at a railroad fan web site (was it this one?), a moderator informed me that the air horn on a diesel electric locomotive is referred to as a "whistle", and NOT as a "horn", because that is in keeping with a tradition of the railroad. But, I have yet to read ANY posted comment, either in this forum or in any other, identifying an air horn on a locomotive as a "whistle". Does anyone know anything about this? Since being told that, I now refer to a locomotive air horn as a locomotive whistle, but I think I'm the only person doing that.
Some time back, when I was at a railroad fan web site (was it this one?), a moderator informed me that the air horn on a diesel electric locomotive is referred to as a "whistle", and NOT as a "horn", because that is in keeping with a tradition of the railroad.
But, I have yet to read ANY posted comment, either in this forum or in any other, identifying an air horn on a locomotive as a "whistle".
Does anyone know anything about this?
Since being told that, I now refer to a locomotive air horn as a locomotive whistle, but I think I'm the only person doing that.
Ed, Larry, Carl, Balt, Zug, Jeff, anyone?
The only whistle I ever knew of on a diesel locomotive was the whistle in the cab that trainmen used to communicate to the engineer in the days before the use of radios in railroading.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.