A very specific question, but I simply must know. What type of whistle was used on the C&NW Northerns (4-8-4)?
Anyone know? I have looked around but do not have access to an extensive library.
A audio file would be even better!
A stumper then.
At least I feel good about not having missed the obvious.
I think steam engine whistles were more unique than diesel airhorns, where a railroad would order say Nathan P3s or whatever to be put on all their engines. I know there were some USRA standard whistles, but I think a lot of railroads built the whistles themselves in their shops so there’s a lot more diversity with whistles.
I do not have the answer for you. I do have an old all-CNW recording and there is no Class H on that disc. Do you belong to the yahoo group for the C&NW? That would probably be the best place to post this kind of inquiry. If you are a member of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society (and if this is so important to you, then you definitely should be a member) their archive might have this information.
An article on the Class H in the CNW Historical Society’s North Western Lines Fall 1983 says only that saturated steam was used for the whistle, which was Pneumatically operated.
Dave Nelson