What engine/tender combo has the best sounding whistle? What engine/tender combo has the loudest whistle?
I guess I will alway be partial to the basic, traditional air whistle.
However for me the best whistle is on my K-Line Semi-Scale Hudson, it is an elecronic whistle that produces a very real, mournful sound, that transports you to a small rural town of many years ago.
Ken
Any of the older Lionel air whistles that use a cast metal air chamber. When in proper tune and a freshly maintained motor, they have the best sound. This does not include the newest electronic stuff. The newest railsounds are just awsome, but god help ya it if dies out of warrenty. My father’s old 1655 with the sheet metal coffin tender is a royal pain in the tail to clean and oil, but sure does sound good when I get the whistle button. Gotta love an old toy train!
My Grandson likes the whistle that goes “WooooOOOOO WHOOOoooo Woo… WOO”
That would be me!
Ken
I have to say the PW air whistle brings back many good memories, but the sound of the whistle on my Weaver L1a sounds like the real thing. it has a variety of attacks and with a little practice you can make it sing. I guess also a good speaker helps.
I’m kinda partial to my K-Line Mikados, although some of the RS-5 steamers sound pretty sweet. Ain’t nuthin sounds better then a good steam whistle, some diesel horns are nice but Steam Rules. [^]
What would be real fun is to install compressed air canisters into cars and power whistles off of them. Could be a lot stronger sound than anything commercially made.
You know what whistle I really enjoy - it’s in a very old MRC Soundsomething I got originally for an N scale layout - it had a slider so I could ‘customize’ the sound.
My K-Line Mikado is very loud!
I’m a little confused about those sheet metal tenders. I thought they were pre-war, like the other tinplate stuff. But recently I saw one that the owner claimed was from 1946 or 47. Can anyone clarify the time period? Thanks.
LocoPops
The sheetmetal tender is a pre-war design, and was carried over after the war. The Lionel 221’s both grey and black each used this tender with or without a whistle. It was updated with knuckle couplers for the modern postwar operater. The tender was also used in scout sets, with scout couplers. Hope this helps.
It sure does. I’ve wondered about the grey and black colors too. Thanks.
ps-this forum is full of guys who know this business inside and out!
Some other postwar 027 engines at the low end price also had that metal tender. usually with whistle.
OK, speaking of whistles… I’ve got an MRC Pure Power Dual and I like it very much. But my two main trains both have air whistles. And it won’t blow either whistles unless the throttle is turned high enough to send the train flying off into space!
For now, I’ve rigged up a whistle station controlled by both a button control and an infrared trigger. However, I’d like to use the tender whistles. They both have a really nice sound.
Is there anything you can do to make the tenders work with the MRC…at a realistic, safe speed? Also, does anyone know which sound system is most compatible with this transformr?
Thanks.
LocoPops
I’ve got an MRC PPD and love it. Modern electronic sound systems from all manufacturers work best with it. By that I mean those with recorded sounds as opposed to the mechanical whistles of the past and present.
When I first got mine, it wouldn’t blow an air whistle unless, as you noted, it was at the higher end of the voltage range. But after servicing my post war air whistles, I’ve noticed that they will work starting at 12 volts or so. Some work better than others.
If you are having trouble with the MRC PPD and your air whistles, try inserting a Lionel sound activation button between the transformer and the power line to the track. Press that button when you want the air whistle to blow. I’ll bet that will work. Just be sure the wires are connected right. If you get no sound, switch the two wire connections to the track.
Jim
On my roster nothing beat my Lionel Century Club NYC Hudson. MARTY E, one of our forumites has it on his webpage and when I heard it, it just blew me away. I had to get one. Check it out …
Go to CC Hudson.
laz57
Jim,
Thanks, I will give that a try!
LocoPops
I have the electric solenoid air valve, if you use CO2 cartriges you will also get smoke. all we need is someone to machine out the whistle. probably the hardest part. I have a live steam loco and it sounds good, but a little high pitched.
Jim,
The sound activation button gives me the same results as the transformer button: A very nice whistle, but only with the throttle cranked way up.
LocoPops
Is your air whistle a modern can style or old style with an open framed motor? I talked to a fellow at MRC about this issue when I got mine. He told me that the unit was designed primarily with the new sound systems in mind. It does work extremely well with new electronic systems. But with air whistles, it’s hit or miss. Since I tuned up my post war air whistles, they work at lower voltages.
Jim