Whistles

Loco whistles

INTRODUCTION

Steam locomotive whistles are very collectible and a well polished brass whistle can look very nice as an ornament in the living room. In an era when plates from locos are so expensive, whistles still offer a relatively affordable way into the "loco bits" market, as well as being one of those "crossover" items which can have an appeal outside the diehard enthusiast.

Unfortunately, it is practically difficult to find a large enough source of air at high enough pressure to sound a loco whistle so for the most part, one has to imagine what they would sound like and enjoy their shape and association with a particular class of locomotive.

With a few notable exceptions, British loco whistles were generally single tone, compare with say the multi-note chime whistles of American and much overseas practice. However, American style whistles, while impressive in size, are usually cast iron and unlikely to receive approval to come into the house. The principal exceptions were Great Western locos, which had two whistles, a small high pitched one for regular use and a bigger, deeper toned whistle, supposedly for emergency use. Gresley's A4s had three note chimes (chiming in A minor) and the British Rail Britannias had similar chimes (as did the "Clans" and a few of the Standard Class 5 4-6-0s).

	A pair of Great Western whistles. The smaller, higher toned, whistle was for normal use. These sometimes are available still attached to the original bracket.
	A4 whistle from 60014 "Silver Link". Some A4 whistles had finials (as shown), others a plain top nut. (photo: Ian Wright)
	Five note chime. This is actually from a Chinese QJ 2-10-2 but similar whistles were used in the USA, and many overseas countries.

The LNER, other than four the A4s, used very high pitched whistles (the well known Transacord recording of A3 "Book Law" tearing across the flat crossing at Retford is a good example). For the large boilered pacifics, these were stubby little bells, mounted to the side of the operating valve. For smaller boilered locos, a more conventional arrangement of the bell being mounted vertically in line with the valve chamber was used.

	LNER A3 whistle. Note how the bell is set to the side of the valve to reduce height. Similar whistles were used on the A1s and A2s.
	Standard LNER whistle. Often referred to as B1 whistles, they were standard on a number of classes. Notice the integral stop valve.
	Great Central standard whistle. "Linda" of the Festiniog Railway has (or had) one of these.

The LMS standardised on a long, narrow whistle, generally known as a hooter, for reasons that are apparent on hearing one. Although they sound awful, they are effective as the sound carries a long way. These were mounted horizontally on the larger-boilered locos and vertically on smaller locos. The hooter seems to have been derived from the Caledonian Railway's version, although these are rather thinner than the Stanier version. Midland whistles are relatively common, are well proportioned and give off a high pitched squeak.

LMS hooter fitted to 46443.

The Southern does not seem to have had a standard whistle as such, although the Bulleid Pacifics had a distinctive deep monotone whistle, mounted horizontally at the front of the firebox.