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Everyone, I going to be starting to detail the top of my CSS. I am having a difficult time trying to find photos of the top of the 2101. The best I have been able to find are attached. Problem is these are grainy and taken from a distance. I do have one photo of the top of the CSS that was taken from a bridge, but that picture is on my computer at work. I'll edit this post when I get back to work on Tuesday.

In the mean time...below is a picture of the area forward of the cab and behind the expansion dome. The silver thingy is LTI's rendition of the steam whistle. After doing some research, I found out via another post on this  website, that the CSS whistle was originally owned by Bill Howes and now is owned by Steve Wickersham. Anyway, this is supposed to be a Nathan whistle. With that being said...I'm trying to find a Precision Scale Co. whistle that is close to the whistle mentioned above. I just cant find any pictures of it. Lots of sound clips but no pictures. I have added a link to PSC's catalog, is any one of these even close? https://www.precisionscaleco.c...8/04/O-Steam-WOP.pdf  The pages are 321 and 322.

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Also, in the pictures below, I'm seeing what looks to be 2 steam generators. Is this correct?

These generators are on Page 127. From what I can tell, it looks to be a Pyle MO-6 Turbo generator w/o muffler. If you click on the black and white photo to open it, and then right click save it, then open it again, you can zoom in and see the generators better.

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The picture directly above is hard to see anything with all the background stuff.

Also, forward of the stack, appears to be a "pressure relief" for the boiler, is this correct?

 

Thanks for the help,

Chris

 

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Last edited by Jayhawk500
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Chris - As you likely know, the 2101 had several incarnations, including as one of the locos pulling the Freedom train in 1976 (along with the 'more famous' SP4449).  I looked quickly on Railpictures.com under both the 2101 moniker, with one link to the American Freedom train.  Here's a link to one of the few pictures I could find there that shows a top (ish) view of 2101/AFT1: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/174399/

Apparently it is currently parked outside (unfortunately) at the B&O rail museum in Baltimore.  Mitch Goldman, one of the best photographers on the railpics website, has a picture from a few years ago, along with a short historical writeup of the loco, here:  https://www.railpictures.net/photo/568904/

You might consider (again, if you haven't already) call the museum and see if they have any photos in their archive and/or someone who could answer some of your questions about the whistle, the turbogenerators, etc.  Maybe with a suitable donation to the museum you could sweet-talk someone there to take some pictures for you (assuming its still in one - if highly weathered - piece).

geysergazer posted:

I know it doesn't help you with 2101 but I did find this tidbit in the Reading Ramble Oct 23, 1960 handout. Third paragraph regarding the whistles on 2124 and 2100:

       IMG_4167

 

Thanks Lew, I was only 6 months old when the Iron Horse Ramble happened. I'm sure the sound of the whistles echoing through the valleys would have been awesome to listen too.

Stuart posted:

Chris,

What's in front of the stack is the Worthington feed water heater.

Stuart

 

richs09 posted:

Chris - As you likely know, the 2101 had several incarnations, including as one of the locos pulling the Freedom train in 1976 (along with the 'more famous' SP4449).  I looked quickly on Railpictures.com under both the 2101 moniker, with one link to the American Freedom train.  Here's a link to one of the few pictures I could find there that shows a top (ish) view of 2101/AFT1: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/174399/

Apparently it is currently parked outside (unfortunately) at the B&O rail museum in Baltimore.  Mitch Goldman, one of the best photographers on the railpics website, has a picture from a few years ago, along with a short historical writeup of the loco, here:  https://www.railpictures.net/photo/568904/

You might consider (again, if you haven't already) call the museum and see if they have any photos in their archive and/or someone who could answer some of your questions about the whistle, the turbogenerators, etc.  Maybe with a suitable donation to the museum you could sweet-talk someone there to take some pictures for you (assuming its still in one - if highly weathered - piece).

PAUL ROMANO posted:

Chessie-steam-special-s2-locomotive-2101-in-reading-pa-april-1978-1200x

                          Chris, this picture clearly shows two steam generators.

                                Image by William F. Howes Jr. Reading, PA 1978

Thanks for info Gentlemen. This definitely helps the cause. So,  2 steam generators, one Worthington feed water heater, and one whistle that's still up in the air. I'll have the one top picture posted tomorrow morning. I guess a call or email to the museum will be in order. 

You can also see that the engine was painted B&O Royal Blue and not black.

Last edited by Jayhawk500

Well I found my picture I was wanting to post up. It was on this computer the whole time.

If someone can point out make and model of the generators and whistle that would be great. Like I said above, my research has told me that whistle is a Nathan, but what kind?

I also sent an email off to the B&O Museum, but I haven't received a reply as of yet.

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Thanks for the help!

Chris

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Last edited by Jayhawk500
Jayhawk500 posted:

Well I found my picture I was wanting to post up. It was on this computer the whole time.

If someone can point out make and model of the generators and whistle that would be great.

The generators are most likely Pyle-National, while the whistle was custom made specifically for Ross Rowland, i.e. there is nothing like it in the steam world.

Like I said above, my research has told me that whistle is a Nathan, but what kind?

See above.

I also sent an email off to the B&O Museum, but I haven't received a reply as of yet.

Don't be surprised if you never get an answer.

 

Thanks for the help!

Chris

 

Jayhawk500 posted:

Well I found my picture I was wanting to post up. It was on this computer the whole time.

If someone can point out make and model of the generators and whistle that would be great. Like I said above, my research has told me that whistle is a Nathan, but what kind?

I also sent an email off to the B&O Museum, but I haven't received a reply as of yet.

16386789697_22c9d59f7a_b

Thanks for the help!

Chris

The whistle was a custom stainless steel 6 chime created by Bob Swanson, the founder of Airchime. Two were made. The first one, used on the Chessie Steam Special, was commissioned by the late Hays Watkins, CEO of Chessie System at the time. The whistle was his personal property, and was part of his estate upon his death and is now in the hands of a private collector.

The second whistle was used on Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 2860. 

That appears to be a stainless steel whistle in the photo above. I'd say that's the Swanson 6-chime.

Here is a YouTube video of the Swanson 6-Chime on a tourist line locomotive.

Jayhawk500 posted:

How do you guys know this stuff? I cant Google this stuff and it pop up. Cause Google don't know anything.

62 years of inquisitive investigation and reading and a fairly good memory. 

Some of it is online:

CPR Steam Whistles

I was mistaken about Hays Watkins being the owner of the whistle. I went and found my notes on the subject.

It was actually Chessie VP-Casualty Prevention William F. Howes who commissioned the whistle from Bob Swanson. He said he wanted it to replicate the sound of the Nathan K5LA air horn. AFAIK he's still alive and still has the whistle. My notes say he originally paid for it with his own personal money and therefore it was always his property from the beginning.

I believe the steam whistle sounded approximately the same notes as the 5-chime air horn but had a 6th chime which replicated the note of the 1st chime but one octave higher. That's from memory so I can't swear to that.

 

 

 

Last edited by Nick Chillianis

I believe I found something close to the whistle. This is from Lionel off of their PRR Lionmaster T-1. I think it'll work just fine with a slight modification to the block behind the whistle. This is where the valve lever is supposed to be. So adding a lever shouldn't be too big of a problem. I found the whistle cord as well. I would also have to repaint the whistle itself, as this is supposed to be stainless steel and not gold/brass.

PRR T-1 Whistle 

I also think, I'm going to go with a Pyle MO-6 for the front generator and a Pyle National or K-2 Turbo for the rear generator. Both of these will be from Precision Scale.

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Last edited by Jayhawk500
Chuck Sartor posted:

That picture is a good representation of a Nathan whistle. However I was referring to the actual sound of the 4-12-2. It sure sounds like a Nathan whistle. Maybe someone could post a video of the first run of the engine to demo the sound.  

As information, the "standard" UP freight whistle was a Star Brass model, which MTH has a live recording of. Thus, the whistle sound in the MTH 9000 class 4-12-2 is the CORRECT UP Star Brass model. Having never heard the sound of the Lionel 4-12-2 I would not speculate on whether it is a correct representation of the "standard" UP freight whistle.

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