That is the Swanson whistle, created by the late Robert Swanson, the founder of Airchime Horns. He indeed created it to sound like a steam whistle version of the K5LA
YankInGA, I worked on both 2101 and 614, and they each wore the original Swanson whistle , which was a one-of-a-kind made from stainless steel pipe, with a flat top. On the 614 it was piped from the superheater so it then it sounded a few semitones higher than the original K5LA chord. This whistle sounds lovely, but it is a steptop, and sounds much higher yet. I bet it was designed to run on air.
You always have to remember that the boiler pressure is a key factor in the oitput of the chimes. BR& W locomotive is probably around 200 psi, 614 is more like 250 or 255psi, major sound tone change. It sounded amazing on 614 back in the 80s when i was growning up. Would love to hear it on a comparable pressure boiler again. Very moody sounding especially at night.
Sounds nothing like a K5la! But that's to be expected. The whistle was designed to sound like the horn on air. On steam it plays higher notes. Not a bad sound though!
It's too bad the 3rd and 4th note are almost a semitone flat. That's likely the biggest reason it's difficult to find much resemblance to a K5LA. It's simply too far off from a Major 6th chord.
That is the Swanson whistle, created by the late Robert Swanson, the founder of Airchime Horns.
He indeed created it to sound like a steam whistle version of the K5LA
YankInGA, I worked on both 2101 and 614, and they each wore the original Swanson whistle , which was a one-of-a-kind made from stainless steel pipe, with a flat top. On the 614 it was piped from the superheater so it then it sounded a few semitones higher than the original K5LA chord. This whistle sounds lovely, but it is a steptop, and sounds much higher yet. I bet it was designed to run on air.
@tomtroszak that's really cool. 614 is my favorite 4-8-4. I hope she is put on the American freedom train of 2026
If I recall correctly, C&O 614 wore one of these in it's Chessie days and also in the winter of 1985 when it hauled coal in the NRG for a month.
Yep! It was also used on Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson 2860...
ToonLink682 It sounds very spooky and haunting!
SINCE WHEN WAS THERE A K5LA WHISTLE ON A ROYAL HUDSON, MAY I ASK?@@That_One_Guy_In_A_Band
That whistle is music to my ears!
You always have to remember that the boiler pressure is a key factor in the oitput of the chimes. BR& W locomotive is probably around 200 psi, 614 is more like 250 or 255psi, major sound tone change. It sounded amazing on 614 back in the 80s when i was growning up. Would love to hear it on a comparable pressure boiler again. Very moody sounding especially at night.
Sounds nothing like a K5la! But that's to be expected. The whistle was designed to sound like the horn on air. On steam it plays higher notes. Not a bad sound though!
Nice whistle, would sound really cool at night I think. Very haunting sound.
Sounds very haunting!
It's too bad the 3rd and 4th note are almost a semitone flat. That's likely the biggest reason it's difficult to find much resemblance to a K5LA. It's simply too far off from a Major 6th chord.
I can really hear the K5LA tuning. It sounds real similar to the C&O 614's K5LA whistle, too.
Pretty sure it's the same one Ross Rowland's 614 wore. Ross had a hand in the starting years of the BR&W if I recall correctly.
K&L Trainz I guess you learn something new everyday. That is very interesting
It reminds me of Strasburg 90's whistle in a way
Reminds me of great western number 90 with that deep throaty sound.
you know... I can hear the similar undertones of the whistle sounding like a K5LA
Beautiful
Very nice, I love that whistle!
Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks for watching!
It sounds more like an SP 5 Chime mixed with a Nathan 6 chime.
That was awesome, Ryan! :)
Thank you!
I kinda do hear a K5LA sound in it a little
Great video Ryan!
Thank you!
that sounds like the reading 6 chime
Ryan, does Frank own this whistle? Sounds great on 60.
I wonder if a K5la whistle could be made for a 7.5 gauge live steam locomotive.
the bell sounds very similar to southern pacific 745
Sounds nothing like it at all.
More like 2472 IMHO
Sounds like DM&IR 332
Similar To Japanese Steam Locomotive Whistle