I purchased the new Blue Comet Pacific from Charlie Ro at York. I have noticed something with it that is bothering me The whistle sounds like a diesel horn more than a steam whistle. Is this correct?? Is there something wrong with mine Its a nice engine but I am a little disappointed with that sound plus the fact that the smoke from the whistle doesn't work either.
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Must be different than what they put in the Southern Crescent. Can you post a video so we can hear it?
Video:
It does have a "horn-like" quality...
Definitely a diesel airhorn, similar to a Nathan M3
The crescent whistle is much better than the blue comet The Lionel video has so much background noise when its time for the whistle that I can't tell I have to take a video Wednesday when I am at the club
the smoke from the whistle doesn't work either.
If you've put enough fluid in it (these new units are thirsty) its possible the fluid is sitting under/around the resistor and crystalizing, or the could be fluid trapped in the outlet hole on the steam dome.Remove the steam dome and blow through it to make sure its clear, then try operating the whistle with the dome off to get a better idea whats going on. Stick your nose over the opening in the boiler while operating and see if you feel any heat. I had fluid crystalizing on my k4 whistle's resistor it would some a bit at first then quit when the fluid crystalized. I ran the whistle with the dome off blowing it until it quit smoking then shut it down to cool so the fluid would decrystalze then I'd turned it back on. I did this for a few minutes until enough of the fluid either burned off or settled down into the wicking that the feature worked correctly. On my locomotive the whistle smokes nearly as much as the stack.
Hi: I have the same engine also purchased from Charles Ro, and yes it does sound like a diesel horn. I have been running mostly steam engines, so the difference in the sound helps me tell which one is sounding off. (still don't make it right). As far as the whistle smoke is concerned, this one is blowing great, even a lot better then the one in Lionel's Video. Having said that my third E-6 Atlantic is at Lionel now having the steam whistle smoke repaired for blowing no smoke. (seems there is a problem with the gasket blocking the fan in these E-6 engines, haven't heard of it yet in the Pacific's). So far I really like the Blue Comet and it is one great looker. Good Luck and let us know how you make out. Regards.
The pick of the litter for me is the Crescent. I has the best sounding whistle of all three of these engines. I purchased all three of the pacific's, and to me the whistle on the Comet and Alton is a bit hi-pitched. I also like the casting and detail on the Crescent. The Legacy controls are on the top not like the other two. I seems to me that the other two are just the remake of the Odyssey engines of a few years ago, with the Legacy system and steam whistle added to the engines. With that said I would not change my mind about my purchase of all three, these are great engines. Will be waiting for the matching passenger cars.
Vic
I had mentioned about the Blue Comet whistle before in another post, that's why I had asked what was the best whistle you liked. The Legacy Penn T-1, is superb. The Blue Comet is just awful. The paint job and detail are great, but something should be done about the whistle. It's like having a Ferrari, with a 6 cylinder!! Beautiful body, but no pizzazz(like having one of the most important parts missing). I would be more than willing to get a better sounding whistle board if available somehow. Hope Lionel is listening.
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