Evan Cihlar posted:It’s actually more likely due to her whistle being directly next to the smoke stack... just as an example NKP 765 is powered with superheated steam
Don't think so, as the whistle on all NKP Berks is mounted directly to the side of the steam dome, thus prior to the superheater header. Steam supply for the whistle on the "big three" UP steam locomotives, i.e. the 4000s, 3900, and 800s, comes off the superheater header, on the superheat side.
yet when she blows her whistle you can see it very clearly. The power and thrust coming out of 844’s smoke stack is a more likely reason on why you won’t see 844’s whistle steam, because it is sucked into the smoke stack’s exhaust. Pictures are attached to prove my point. One is a picture of on top of 844 showing how the steam from the whistle is going to be directed right into the smoke stack exhaust... the other is a photo from when the locomotive wasn’t moving and you can clearly see steam coming from where the whistle was.... that being said, it is most definitely not because of super heated steam.
Nope. It all depends on the weather/temperature conditions. Very hot and dry, not much if any vapor. Cool/cold and damp, you can hardly see forward through the vapor cloud. The same thing applies the UP 3985, and SP 4449, both use superheated steam. I spent some 17 years as a contract Fireman on the UP Steam Team, on both 8444/844 and 3985, plus more than 40 years on SP 4449.
