NSWGR steam locomotive whistles

A brief description of the five chime whistle fitted to NSWGR steam locomotives.

[@mattdotsonrailfanproductio266]

I’m an American guy but those Australian whistles are actually quite awesome

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

Same here. I used to watch the series “Tugs” a lot and these whistles remind me of a character from that series called Puffa.

[@greenturtlgaming2554]

@@SouRwy4501ProductionsThat’s because they were probably based on the Star Brass 5 chime whistles, which Puffa has.

[@5CP549]

For some reason, (Even in Victoria, Australia ) when a steam loco runs tender first, the 5 chime always sounds better than running forward!

[@MrBnsftrain]

6:08 I like that whistle!

[@nicholasmedovich8691]

They somewhat remind me of UP star brass 5 chimes. I can think of 3. 618, 428, and 4466.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

That might be because the NSWGR based their standard 5 chime off of the Union Pacific star brass 5 chime whistles.

[@mariaalatorre7287]

8:40 Me : 6029 are you all right 6029: wubububububu!

[@connerbordelon08]

There is 1 sorta unique whistle in the line of australian steam locomotives, which is 5917s whistle.

[@jltrain-zgamingrailfan202x3]

0:26 Actually, I just learned that the whistles on the 59 Class are not Nathan 3-Chimes, they're Hancock 3-Chime (Short-Bell Version) whistles because I can hear the same notes between the whistle from a youtube video and the one on 5917. Replica by Rizzoli L.W. in the United States: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIPLZ2R3rZpma6s NSW 5917: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaitd4CqiMZ3j5Y

[@justahillbilly7777]

5917's whistle sounds more like Milwaukee Road 261's original raspy three chime that was used up until that Santa Fe 5 chime that's tuned like a 6 got put on the 261. After that ATSF whistle got installed, that raspy three chime's been rarely heard, but it's still there.

[@jltrain-zgamingrailfan202x3]

These whistles are awesome!!! I wish these were heard in North America (USA & Canada)!

[@cple1]

Take a look at a Star Brass five chime. SP called them a Desert Five Chime. UP used them on just about everything but the 800's, 3900's and 4000's.

[@harrimanfox8961]

and some Chinese made 5 chimes, Southern Pacific 745 wore one from 2004-2010

[@harrimanfox8961]

and some Chinese made 5 chimes, Southern Pacific 745 wore one from 2004-2010

[@harrimanfox8961]

and some Chinese made 5 chimes, Southern Pacific 745 wore one from 2004-2010

[@mattdotsonrailfanproductio266]

J L Heber Valley 618 wore a 5 chime very similar to one of these

[@cmw184]

The first couple sound like lima 5 chimes lol A couple others sound like star brass 5 chimes/atsf

[@zechtheg4m3r19]

I subscribed, since your Australian too, and I love the train whistling

[@migueldelacruz4799]

zech78 well subscribed because he's isn't American!

[@migueldelacruz4799]

zech78 Southern Comfort Louisiana burboen may have something to do with it. Have you had Southern Comfort? It's amazing stuff

[@wigwagstudios2474]

So you’re saying that You subscribe only to Australians? Weird but alright

[@Abandoned_12]

6:09

[@jltrain-zgamingrailfan202x3]

Hey Rock Solid Railroad Videos, does the chamber lengths your NSWGR 5-Chimes vary? I'm just asking if your whistle's chamber lengths are different, if that has anything to do with the design of how they are operated whether it's the lever or the piston valve.

[@edbell4644]

I enjoyed your video , great to hear the various NSWGR loco's in action. Do you have a dvd copy available for purchase. thanks.

[@lycanrocdusk848]

6:00 NSW gr c32 Vs P class

[@rahmanaridho]

So, what chord the whistle play, or the note of the individual chime play?

[@TheFilmDesigner]

Fantastic! Thank you doing this

[@jltrain-zgamingrailfan202x3]

What kind of whistle does NSWGR #6029? It sounds to my ears like a 6 chime or something.

[@NSWGR]

Same as 3822

[@38013813]

Would like to have 3822s whistle installed on 3801 and hear the difference

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

If I ever get enough money I might purchase one of those beautiful 5 chimes. Where might I be able to find one?

[@shanemyoutubeshit]

Puffa!!!

[@struck2soon]

Great explanation, thanks!

[@JRussellProductions]

Great video here Bevan. And excellent information and knowledge of the NSWGR 5 chime whistles. :) I noticed something last week and a half ago when I went to video 3801 on the Southern Highlander up in Moss Vale on 01's arrival. I noticed on occasions when 01 blows the chime whistle. some times It sounded squeaky like it wasn't sounding off properly and a lot of times it sounded off perfect in full blast with no issues, similar to the preview here with 6029 Beyer Garratt. Does the occasional very off squeaky high pitch sound coarse by too much wet moisture in the whistle bowl or in the 5 chime whistle chambers?

[@bwDVD]

The issue could be that the valve in the cab that was used (there are two) may not have been fully activated thus sending less air pressure to the piston on the whistle which would cause the whistle steam valve to not open fully.

[@JRussellProductions]

@@bwDVD Thanks for the reply Bevan. That would've explain the reason for it too. Thought I ask since I watched another rail fan's video here when he videoed it at Bowral. When that squeaky sound happened. Iheard in the background someone saying it sounded a bit wet. I would've thought too much moisture may cause it to vary with the sound.

[@migueldelacruz4799]

Yall run allot of 4-6-0s down under

[@railtransportvlogsnsw7775]

Do you know if loco 3016s whistle was changed in 2017? I seem to be the only one hearing the change in sound from 2017 onward. 2016 and lower years all have its original whistle. I just don’t know!

[@ewoutro]

I had to review a lot of footage, but yes, it does seem to be very slightly lower-pitched now.

[@AussieBrumby]

where did you get the whistles from?

[@johnclarke2553]

Outstanding video! I don't suppose you could edit out the last atrocity?

[@bigman4225]

g'day bevan, the whistle in the background at the start is that based off the victorian 5 chime?

[@bwDVD]

No. It's just a standard NSWGR five chime.

[@jltrain-zgamingrailfan202x3]

Can you do a video about the whistles on the Victorian Railway?

[@CGT867]

Why is it that you could pick a 60 class or a 38 from all the other locos if the whistles are all the same? I don't think the boiler pressure would make that much difference. Also I was under the impression that the 59 class were fitted with "Hancock" whistles when they came from the USA and they sound like no others in Australia. Although the NSWGR whistles are similar to the VR whistles they don't sound quite the same as the VR's original Nathans.

[@bwDVD]

I think you're correct about the 59 whistles. The 38 class and 60 class whistles are mounted horizontally which does make a difference. Something to do with the Doppler effect. One of the whistles that was trialled on 3830 was a rebuilt whistle from a 32 class.BW

[@odcuk]

In addition, I believe the 38 whistles take dry steam at higher temperature from the dry side of the superheater (Front end throttle and all that) which also make a considerable differance. Others all use wet steam.

[@railtransportvlogsnsw7775]

I have always loved the joy ville train whistle it's beautiful

[@colinhussey5028]

I did my main line firing trials on 3809 in 1964, one unusual feature that I vividly remember was a two tone affect, when the whistle was blown from the cab roof chord rather than the air valve on the drivers side, the start and main blow sound was typical 38cl but at the release of the chord the sound was more akin to that of the 36cl, which tended towards a trail off, rather than the very on/off as found with the air operation. The other aspect was that most 38cl had slight variations to them especially when in regular service and working many miles between depot visits. It also did not seemingly take much and still does not to alter the sounds, case point is with 6029 at times it has the distinct Beyer Peacock tune, as found in other Garratts such as in the African states, at other times different sound again. The 59cl was fitted with Hancock 3 chime Southern Railway types, another very distinctive and beautiful sounding whistle, somehow though on the LVR's 5917 has lost that distinct sound, hopefully that will be remedied during its current time out and overhaul. A note on the 59c was that the whistle chord operation was unique in that rather than a wire across the cab ceiling there was a wide metal rod with counter balances on each outer end, the wire from the middle of the rod to the whistles opening lever. On the outer counter balances a wire hung down to which you used to operate the whistle, many of our whistle codes requred short sharp blasts, meaning easy on all types except the air operating and the 59cl class, 38's needed enough steam opened by the air to blow, so never a real short whistle let alone just a pop was possible. The very short whistle was used mostly on passenger train starts or ROW signals from guard etc. It was achieved by giving a short hard pull of the chord and instantly releasing it, on the 59 if you did the same hard pull the counter balance could flip and stay down holding the whistle open, fun and games to try and push it back. The thing was though it made what the Americans love and call playing the whistle quite easy, as little strength was needed to hold the whistle open as the balance held wonderfully.

[@CGT867]

Thanks Colin - very interesting. I remember that setup on the 59's. There are quite a lot of recordings of 38's and 60's (at least one on youtube) where the whistle is blown while the loco is at speed and initially only 4 chimes sound then the 5th chime comes in. I was told it had something to do with the horizontal mounting and wind but I don't know.

[@aussietransportfan812]

What kind of whistle does 3642 have? At first, I thought it was the standard NSW five chime whistle, until i heard the exact same whistle on a Rogers locomotive in Back to the Future 3

[@danielcook9032]

It is the standard 5 chime

[@darcypetersen1]

Whistle in back to the future 3 is a very very warn out lima 5 chime

[@T128Productions]

@@darcypetersen1 Not as worn out compared to 2019, which was when it sounded awful. By the way the locomotive is the Sierra Railway #3, aka the movie star.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

@@T128Productions in late 2019, the Rizzoli Locomotive Works actually repaired the whistle to sound like it was supposed to sound.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

I wonder if any American locomotives used pneumatic pistons to activate the whistle like the c38s?

[@justahillbilly7777]

Pere Marquette 1225 used to use button actuation before the Steam Railroading Institute changed it sometime in the very late 90's or very early 2000's to use a lever. From what I've read and seen, the Kansas City Southern used to have some compound articulated that had air actuated whistles that were called screamers, and the Southern Pacific's GS engines used an air actuating lever for their steam whistles just the same as their Leslie air horns. I don't know of any other then that, but I'm not omniscient when it comes to rail related knowledge either.

[@oldwarriorproductions8411]

You don’t mind if i use this for sound effects purposes? I’ll credit u 🙂

[@jasonstewart7112]

What is the beautiful burgundy loco in the second to last clip?

[@algrigg9039]

That is 2709.

[@jltrain-zgamingrailfan202x3]

What are the chamber lengths of the NSWGR 5-Chime?

[@benwetzel8449]

What's the whistle at 6:33

[@bwDVD]

A NSWGR five chime whistle as described in the video.

[@mdgfb05]

and it is the most recognised whistle in NSW on the one the only 3801

[@jltrain-zgamingrailfan202x3]

I think he mean's the type of NSWGR 5 chime whistle of a tune.

[@yungmouse3850]

38's have a strange 5 chime

[@thomasbulic7388]

What is the class of the Steam Locomotive at Redfern at the end?

[@bwDVD]

That is 2705.

[@steamtrainfra4377]

Or we can find the right Whistle.

[@grant3830]

The audio is not very clear.

[@mdgfb05]

who cares

[@migueldelacruz4799]

So much SEX,STEAM, AND DEATH!

[@tylerscott8208]

5:59 STUPID WHISTLE

[@theark-la-missrailfan]

Why do you say that?