Chimed Train Whistle

If you're referring to the wooden, box-shaped whistle, then they are fairly realistic, for a lightweight whistle.  Back in the 1970's, when I was a boy Engineer with dark hair, I carried one in my grip.  If the Conductor (aboard the waycar, of course) highballed the train over the radio, I answered back over the radio with two shorts on the wooden whistle.

If you want a hand-held whistle that will replicate the sound of a big 5-note chime whistle as might have been used on big steam, then you'll need to search around for one with a bundle of aluminum tubes.  Somebody made these in the 1970's, but I have not seen one for years.  They were somewhat expensive when new, but they did sound quite realistic and the tone could be "quilled" by increasing or decreasing the air flow.

I have one of the aluminum ones. Got it from the train store that used to be in Washington's Union Station in 1992. Definitely the best of the mouth-blown bunch, but it takes a huge breath to blow more than a relatively-short toot!

I see now that you're referring to one of the bellows-operated whistles. They don't sound too bad, and it's neat to be able to pull the cord to make the sound. Again, with such a limited amount of air capacity, don't expect to be really able to make any long, drawn-out blasts.

Thanks. By the way, the whistle is going to be used for The Great Locomotive Chase in our upcoming orchestra concert.

Aaron

I still have a four-tube aluminum chime whistle commemorating the opening of the Saturn plant in March of 1988 in Spring Hill TN. Mine has the Saturn logo, the Tennessee three-star logo, and the CSX Transportation logo. We rode a special train out to the plant with the Governor, members of the 95th General Assembly, and a number of Saturn and CSX officials. On the way back, I was sitting next to the CSX President in the theatre car, when he said he had an office full of this stuff, and he asked me if I wanted it. He also said he had NO kids in his home, and I responded that I was the biggest kid in my house! 

It has a great steam sound but does require some SERIOUS blowing! 

Aaron:

A friend of mine once had an orchestral version of "I've Been Working on the Railroad"  with Andre Kostelonetz conducting.

Sorry for taking so long to get back.  I got the whistle last week, and my orchestra director absolutely loves it.  (Interestingly, his father was a watch inspector for the Baltimore & Ohio.)

Thanks again for the "second" (for lack of a better word) opinions!

Aaron