According to Hot Water, the current whistle on the 611 is NOT the original N&W one. When 611 last ran in 1994, did she have her original whistle?
No, she carried an "original N&W passenger whistle" but her original whistle. I can't remember which 600 class locomotive that Chairman Robert B. Claytor got his whistle from. When 611 was first restored and placed into excursion service, Mr. Claytor had his personal whistle installed. I'm not sure if anybody knows what happened to the original whistle from 611.
Who actually is in possession of the original one?
The "Claytor family whistle" is in the possession of Preston Clayton, the late Robert Claytor's son.
There is a rumor that it currently resides with Mr. Preston Claytor.
That is NOT a "rumor". Preston Claytor is still currently in possession of his father's N&W passenger whistle, i.e. the Claytor family whistle. The 611 currently carries a former UP whistle, owned and on loan from one of the ladies on the steam crew.
