Re: 484 Whistle

Jack Spencer Wrote:
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> 488 had a Lukenheimer 3-chime as fitted to 483 in
> the 60s last year. She carried it for about a
> month, then the old 5-chime put back on. I think
> 484's Western Pacific whistle from 2016 was a
> 3-chime as well.
> Personally, I think there should be one particular
> whistle fitted to one engine.
> 168 - Original
> 315 - Original
> 463 - The original hooter, but how it sounded in
> the 90s.
> 484 - 497's 5-chime whistle
> 487 - Original
> 488 - Original
> 489 - Powell 3-chime, 100%!


Jack,

The Lunkenheimer on 488 was mine. I bought it intending to recreate the one on 487 in the 60's that was mounted on a D&RGW bowl, but the shop foreman was not interested in re-creating history. So incorrectly it went to 488 painted as 483 and gave a mis-interpretation during the 50 year anniversary photo train. As far as I can find in photographs, the 483 never wore a Lunkenheimer. The one on the 487 can be traced in photos era-wise from 456 to 489 to 490 to 487 and finally to 476 where it eventually disappeared off of in the 80's. For a very brief time in the 70's, the whistle is noticed in a film on 473 and the 476 has a single chime.

As far as another engine, 168 has a D&RGW single chime that was put on it when it was readied for display by D&RGW and that's what it continues to wear. The only thing missing is the acorn nut that was at the top of the whistle in 1938.

If anyone wants to hear one of the best sounds on the narrow gauge, sit at Cumbres on a cool night when 463 is on one of the dinner trains and listen to each place the whistle is blown on their trip back to Chama. It'll make the hair raise on the back of your neck, but also historically you'll hear what things would have sounded like on the narrow gauge before so many five chimes showed up.

Chase Bond