Steam Whistle notes/sounds/etc

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chucketn
Posts: 159
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:15 am
Location: Jonesborough,TN

Steam Whistle notes/sounds/etc

Post by chucketn »

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.
michaellynn2
Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2015 4:49 am
Location: Richmond VA

Re: Steam Whistle notes/sounds/etc

Post by michaellynn2 »

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.
michael george
paralleler
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Apr 18, 2017 11:22 am

Re: Steam Whistle notes/sounds/etc

Post by paralleler »

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/
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dnevil
Posts: 373
Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 10:19 am
Location: Springtown, Texas
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Re: Steam Whistle notes/sounds/etc

Post by dnevil »

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
Daris Nevil
IBLS Secretary
North American Region
http://www.ibls.org
Kimball McGinley
Posts: 809
Joined: Wed May 31, 2006 2:13 pm
Location: Laguna Niguel CA

Re: Steam Whistle notes/sounds/etc

Post by Kimball McGinley »

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.
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