Sounds the same to me.

It's the same whistle

Sounds the same to me as it has since the first time I saw her in 1985..

I've noticed this too. The whistle is the same but it might be tuned just a tad differently. Rich says it's the same whistle but it seemed to have a higher pitch and almost a scream to it back in the late 80's till 1993 when it went in for its overhaul. I always hoped it can be tuned or adjusted back to how it was in the 90's because I honestly think it's the best sounding whistle on any steam engine out there.

The pitch of the whistle is dependent on the steam pressure. We don't run the 765 right at 245 psi all the time. There are times when we don't need maximum pressure and we'll fire at a somewhat lower pressure.

The difference in sound and pitch between 220 psi and 245 psi is significant.

A few years ago I saw a new story on 765.She was being tested after coming off a rebuild.I bet that whistle be heard for miles.I have a mth premire 765.What I noticed was mth model has the mars light.The way she is today is what she was delivered from the factory.Now here some thing funny.I am a cartoonist and while at a comic book store.A batman comic book on the very front was a the front of 765.This a true story. 

FWRHS would love to see an image of that comic book with the 765.  Please pick it up and share it with us.  During the first overhaul concluding in 1979, the 765's whistle, a Nathan six chime with a cast iron top (WWII brass shortages, you know) was traded with one at the Allen County/Lima, Ohio.  It is an all brass version that came from the original 1934 NKP 700 and that is the whistle the 765 has carried ever since.  A whistle collector on our crew put it in a lathe and "tuned it up" a bit around 2010 and that accounts for a slight variation in the sound since.

NKP779 posted:

FWRHS would love to see an image of that comic book with the 765.  Please pick it up and share it with us.  During the first overhaul concluding in 1979, the 765's whistle, a Nathan six chime with a cast iron top (WWII brass shortages, you know) was traded with one at the Allen County/Lima, Ohio.  It is an all brass version that came from the original 1934 NKP 700 and that is the whistle the 765 has carried ever since.  A whistle collector on our crew put it in a lathe and "tuned it up" a bit around 2010 and that accounts for a slight variation in the sound since.

I will try to find to.The comic book shop has back issues of comics.

Whoops, traded with the Allen County Museum, Lima, Ohio.  Left out a key word.....

OGR Webmaster posted:

The pitch of the whistle is dependent on the steam pressure. We don't run the 765 right at 245 psi all the time. There are times when we don't need maximum pressure and we'll fire at a somewhat lower pressure.

The difference in sound and pitch between 220 psi and 245 psi is significant.

Thank you for answering a question I have always wondered about., Rich. I often suspected that excursion engines might be operated at lower than designed pressure, considering that they are not always loaded down to their full tonnage rating.  I couldn't see 765 needing anywhere near all of her power to run 40 MPH along a moderately graded stretch of line with 15 - 20 passenger cars, let alone articulateds like 3985 and 1218.

How does operating at a lower pressure effect overall efficiency?

I once read an article about a British visitor riding the "footplate" of a New York Central Niagara in regular passenger service and he related that at no time during his ride, except on a sustained, albeit mild uphill section, did the boiler pressure approach the 285 lbs design pressure. During the majority of his run over an entire division the pressure averaged about 245 lbs.

This was the only time I read of such practice in the days of regular steam operations, although it seems to make sense. On one of Herron Rails tapes a Niagara is seen pulling a single car on a branch line. It would seem to me to be a huge waste of fuel to fire the engine to keep the pressure up to 285 for such a run.

The only other reference I ever came across referencing operating an engine on lower-than-design pressure was when moving about an engine terminal on "house" steam.

Nick Chillianis posted:

OGR Webmaster posted:

The pitch of the whistle is dependent on the steam pressure. We don't run the 765 right at 245 psi all the time. There are times when we don't need maximum pressure and we'll fire at a somewhat lower pressure.

The difference in sound and pitch between 220 psi and 245 psi is significant.

Thank you for answering a question I have always wondered about., Rich. I often suspected that excursion engines might be operated at lower than designed pressure, considering that they are not always loaded down to their full tonnage rating.  I couldn't see 765 needing anywhere near all of her power to run 40 MPH along a moderately graded stretch of line with 15 - 20 passenger cars, let alone articulateds like 3985 and 1218.

I sure don't know how the Fort Wayne group does it anymore, but EVERY steam locomotive I've ever fired, we were taught to fire it within 2 pounds of the maximum working pressure, when working, regardless of the load. Thus, locomotives such as 4449 and 844 and 3985 are fired as close to 300 psi as possible (280 psi for 3985).

How does operating at a lower pressure effect overall efficiency?

Reduces efficiency, thus generally more water and fuel are used unnecessarily. 

I once read an article about a British visitor riding the "footplate" of a New York Central Niagara in regular passenger service and he related that at no time during his ride, except on a sustained, albeit mild uphill section, did the boiler pressure approach the 285 lbs design pressure. During the majority of his run over an entire division the pressure averaged about 245 lbs.

Then the Fireman was NOT doing his job properly.

This was the only time I read of such practice in the days of regular steam operations, although it seems to make sense. On one of Herron Rails tapes a Niagara is seen pulling a single car on a branch line. It would seem to me to be a huge waste of fuel to fire the engine to keep the pressure up to 285 for such a run.

Nope.

The only other reference I ever came across referencing operating an engine on lower-than-design pressure was when moving about an engine terminal on "house" steam.

True.  The other times, in the "modern era" would be when the locomotive is on display, then we keep the boiler pressure about 20 psi below max. 

Something else to consider with "changing" boiler pressures during operations, is the changes in stresses on the firebox and other portions of the pressure vessel. It is much easier on the steel of the boiler/firebox to maintaining a constant, steady boiler pressure, no matter what the locomotive Engineer does. Remember that a steam locomotive is essentially a "heat machine", and maintaining proper & constant boiler pressure insures that the heat going into the valves/cylinders is always at its maximum temperature and efficiency. Of course that is based on the Engineer knowing how to PROPERLY set the valve cut-off based on the throttle setting.

 

 

NKP779 posted:

FWRHS would love to see an image of that comic book with the 765...

I have a copy of this comic book. While the cover image is nice, the actual story in the book was very dark and disturbing as I recall.

Nick Chillianis posted:

...I often suspected that excursion engines might be operated at lower than designed pressure, considering that they are not always loaded down to their full tonnage rating...

We often run the 765 all day and never exceed 230 psi other than when we test the pops in the morning. That 245 psi rating is the maximum operating pressure for the engine. But we rarely need maximum power pulling these little excursion trains. There are times, such as on deadhead moves with a diesel behind us to stretch the coal, that we'll run all day at 200 psi. Running at a lower pressure saves fuel.

When we need max power, such as climbing a steep grade, we'll fire her right up to the pops and then some.

 

When we need max power, such as climbing a steep grade, we'll fire her right up to the pops and then some.

Such as with the New River excursion trains?