The Home Machinist!

As I'm not a train builder of renown, or at all, I don't expect this thread to go very far. But, I am a steam enthusiast, I build model steam engines, I'm an amateur machinist, and I have a big interest in steam anything. And, my Grandfather was a RR man, a Fireman and Brakeman on the Erie-Lackawanna RR. And I do remember Steam Locomotives running the rails near my childhood home in Upstate NY in the 50's. I have a family reunion coming up at the end of the month, and hope to visit Steamtown in Scranton, PA.

That said, and having heard many steam whistles over my lifetime, I start this thread as a repository of known steam whistle sounds, specs, and drawings. if you are musically inclined(I'm not) and can identify the notes hit by a known loco, please speak up. If you have designed/ built a steam whistle, please share...
Yes, I might try to build a steam whistle from what ever info is posted here.

I have some experience with whistle chamber lengths
Class A and Y N&W hooter whistle has a 12" whistle chamber
N&W class J steam boat whistle is a HANCOCK three step with a 10" chamber, a 12 1/2" chamber and a 15 1/2" chamber. This whistle is also used by the UP big steam.

Rizzoli Locomotive Works builds steam whistles and their web site has examples of the wonderful sounds they create. There are the sounds of roughly forty steam whistles under the tabs: 3 Chime, 5 Chime, and 6 Chime. Select a tab, scroll down to the photographs, and click on them to play. Their web site is found here:
http://rizzolilocomotiveworks.com/6-chime/

Here are a couple of articles on building scale whistles, and the frequencies involved.

http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?tit ... am_Whistle

http://ibls.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Steam_whistle

Regards,
Daris

I think there will be lot on this over on the "trainorders" website. Several poster there have restored and/or run many famous modern 4-8-4's etc.