I hear your disappointment regarding the whistle.
I bought the USRA Pacific 6-85170 - Atlanta and West Point 290 in the 2018 catalog C1 Big Book. Didn't know it had the same whistle as my VL Big Boy and FEF-3.
On Youtube, I heard the whistle for the USRA Pacific 6-85172 - Blue Reading and Northern 425 (same page in catalog) and liked it better; so, ordered its sound card and replaced the card in the Atlanta and West Point. Happier with that - such blasphemy! $79. If I realize the error of my ways, I can always go back - .