Re: 484 Whistle

D&RGW Chase Wrote:
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> Abqfoamer Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 463's one-tone shrieker sounds awful. No
> > personality.
> > 489's six-chime whistle donated by ATSF that I
> > cleaned and painted sounds commanding and
> correct,
> > much like those on New York Central's Hudsons.
>
>
> K-36's aren't NYC Hudson's or AT&SF Hudson's and
> an engineer can make any whistle sound commanding.
> There's only one surviving six chime that is
> fitting for the D&RGW narrow gauge and it's the
> modified six chime bell on a D&RGW bowl on White
> Pass 73 from K-28 471. Otherwise K-36's had
> mostly single chimes, different five inch three
> chime bells mounted on D&RGW bowls, and D&RGW six
> inch five chimes. C&TS is supposed to be the
> historical representation of the D&RGW according
> to most railfans so it would be nice to eventually
> hear the correct sounds of history instead of the
> mish mash of whistles there.
>
> Chase Bond

Hooray for Chase....

One minor point there were at least two 6 inch Rio Grande 5 chime tops (one cast iron, one bronze) that were modified to fit on a 5-inch hoot base. The iron one was on 478 in the late 50's and became a fixture on 487 on the C&TS. The bronze one was on 488 in the 50's and 60's, and got reunited with 488 in the 90's. The bronze chime was pin-punched "169". Indeed the 169 did have a 5-chime in the 1930's.

The Rio Grande had a practice in the 1910-30's of having hoot whistles on freight engines and either 3 or 5 chime whistles on passenger power. As such, the big 2-8-2's had hoot whistles as built. the 470's came with ALCO 5-chimes, just to confuse us into thinking the K-28's were designed as passenger power.. Later on this practice got muddled, then forgotten and when an engne needed a whistle, they grabbed whatever was on the shelf.

Concerning the bit Powell 3-chime that was on 487 in the 1960's..... it disappeared after 1967 when 487 got set aside. The Powell that was put on 476 in 1968 is a different whistle. I have recordings of both. 476's was higher pitched and an inch or two shorter.

In the time period the 168 is being restored to, she should wear a nice 5" polished brass 3 chime.

In my opinion, each engine should have its own unique voice, therefore have its own whistle. The SOUND of the D&RGW Narrow Gauge is just as important as the visual aspect.