Variations in whistle sound - Video

@Nick Chillianis posted:

Many discussions on this forum have touched on the subject of differences in sound between whistles, even of the same type, when mounted on the same class of locomotive. 

This video on the topic of the Australian New South Wales Government Railways Standard 5-chime whistles explains it brilliantly. 

Excellent!!!!   Hopefully this will explain/answer a lot of the questions brought up on this forum.

Note that the air operated actuator is an on-off device. It cannot be "played" by a whistle "artist". He does not identify the manufacturer, but here in the U.S. the Viloco Air Actuator was the most common model. The Viloco system was used on Southern Pacific's GS Classes, all of New York Central's Hudsons, Mohawks and Niagaras and the N&W's J Class, although the latter also had pull ropes. Surviving audio recordings indicate that most N&W enginemen preferred to blow the whistle "old school" by using the manual method.

This explains, for instance, why the same model Hancock 3-chime sounds different on 4449, 4014, 611, 844 etc.

Yes, plus the whistle is supplied with superheated steam on 4449, 844, and 4014, while the steam supply to the whistle on N&W 611 is NOT superheated. Also, for what it's worth, the whistle on SP 4449 was relocated from inside the skyline casing, just forward of the cab & turret, to the Engineer's side, right beside the exhaust stack, during the restoration for the American Freedom Train.

I personally do not care for the Viloco actuator.  It's ruins the sound of the beautiful New York Central six and five chime whistles, for instance. They sound much nicer whenever they surface at a "whistle blow" event and are actuated by a pull rope.

I must agree. The only steam locomotive I've ever been on that had an air-actuated whistle was CPR #2860. No fun at all! 

Although I've seen the drawing that indicates that N&W J's were to have air-operated whistles at the NWHS archives (one each for engineer and fireman!!), I've seen no record that they were ever built that way.  Or if they were, the operating valves were removed fairly quickly.  I've heard no recording of the J's that indicate anything but good, old-fashioned manual operation (ref OWL recordings).

@feltonhill posted:

Although I've seen the drawing that indicates that N&W J's were to have air-operated whistles at the NWHS archives (one each for engineer and fireman!!), I've seen no record that they were ever built that way.  Or if they were, the operating valves were removed fairly quickly.  I've heard no recording of the J's that indicate anything but good, old-fashioned manual operation (ref OWL recordings).

Here is photograph NW03920 in the N&WHS collection. It is the backhead and controls of locomotive 600 as built. I have drawn a white circle around what I believe is a Viloco control lever, attached to the brake stand.

I don't know of any locomotives that were equipped with a Viloco valve on the fireman's side. They were usually attached to the brake stand which was a ready source of air in the cab. Some provision for a tap and a line to the left side would have to be fitted. I don't see anything like that in this photo.

Click on the attachment for a larger image.