Southern Pacific 786 is a 2-8-2 “Mikado” built by ALCO in 1916. It pulled trains through out the Southern Pacific system. It was retired and was donated to the city of Austin, Texas for display. It was restored back to operation in 1992. And operated excursions until being sidelined in 1999. Today, the locomotive is undergoing it’s rebuild for a return to operation.
As I understand it, the Katy whistles were distinctive with their sound and it seemed to have been noticeable by its characteristic tones. There are other steam whistles that shriek, too, and the Katy was not the only one.
The Katy whistle belongs to a friend who had to adapt the connection for it to fit that locomotive. He was also our engineer and a avid Katy fan who arranged to have his whistle added for our Katy Historical Society excursion on that day. It was likely a one time opportunity.
@@KsTrp fair enough. Still a pretty haunting sound though. I also heard y'all were getting ready to put the frame back on the drivers pony and trailing truck in the not too distant future.
It honestly sounds like a 3 chime. Considering that this whistle was sick during this recording, I can’t help but wonder what it would’ve sounded like when it was fine...
I think I know why the whistle sounds like if a sound isn’t supposed to be heard on the whistle. As you already know that the whistle sounds Erie and shrieky, this is because the air nozzle connection between the whistle is either loose or has trouble fitting into the connector. My other guess would be the nut or bolt screw that connects and transfers the air into the whistle is loose, causing little air to escape from the air nozzle, and so what we hear is a shrieky tone interfering with the original sound the whistle SHOULD make.
Yes, the owner of the whistle, who was also the locomotive engineer, changed out the whistles on the steam engine and fittings were not the same. Since it was the first of two days with that Katy Pacific whistle, he was a bit cautious with it since it had not been used in years. I understood he made some adjustments for the second day, which most of us were not there to capture it. The original Balzen video may have some second day action but I have not checked back on it.
It wouldve been interesting if they kept the whistle on 786 along with the 6 chime, kinda like with 745, which has a 6 chime (and im assuming it still has it) a sp 5 chime desert screamer
I believe the correct town should be Burnet, TX not Burkburnett,TX .As a member of the KRHS at time I was on that excursion. the train left Cedar Park. We had about a 2 hour layover in Burnet while they turned the train on the wye. Burnet had a drug store that still had a working soda fountain that a lot of members enjoyed.
Thanks for the correction. I was on that excursion train too and as past president of the KRHS, I had the privilege to get a cab ride for a portion of the trip. That was a first for me. Had a great time.
This locomotive has been out of action since 2006, and it is STILL under restoration. The Austin Steam RR has been running diesels (not very interesting). Wonder when this loco will ever be working again, and why it's taken so long for its restoration?
The ASTA needs to run to make money if anyone wants 786 restored. The investment in 442 happened in 2000 before restoration began, and since then many of the cars they've run are leased from private owners and not owned by the railroad. 786 needed a complete rebuild that'd challenge any railroad, and the operation in Cedar Park just isn't big enough of one to make that happen quickly
Many of us have noted the sound was not as good as it could have been. At that time, the whistle had not been used for years and there were issues fitting it to that locomotive. The engineer, who is also the owner of the whistle, was hesitant and careful with it the first day. It remained on that locomotive for one more day and I understood it was used with more confidence. Unfortunately I do not have video and sound from the second day.
Glad you like it. Tom shot some nice footage on that day at several locations. I edited a few from his footage to combine them into this one to give everyone an idea of what a Katy whistle sounded like.
@@electrik_loss I recall seeing an article about the specific pitches used on the Katy whistles. It has been a while since I have seen it. One thing for sure, a Katy whistle is seldom heard.
@@KatyPacific382 I came across it while going through some of the M-K-T Employe’s Magazines. It explained the pitches used. However, I did not note the date of the magazine and attempting to find it again would be a challenge.
Questions! 1. Did the person who own the whistle say which locomotive it's from and what number it was? 2. Is that whistle and possibly more MKT whistles still around and preserved? 3. is it a 3 chime or a 5 chime?
The owner knows which Katy Pacific locomotive that whistle came from but I would have to contact him for the number. It is a three chime and there is an article in one of the M-K-T Employes' Magazine about them and their tuning. I suspect there are others in collections but none that have been shared like this. A large, shop whistle is still around but passenger and freight locomotive whistles seem to be a challenge.
The owner of the whistle, who was also engineer that day, was being cautious with it on this run. After reaching our destination they also found the connection they added was leaking a bit. On the return trip he finally had confidence in it and it sounded great. The man who video taped this did not tape the return trip.
The engineer on that run owned the Katy whistle and they had to adapt it to the 786. His initial efforts were cautious until he felt he could let her go full throat.
@@KsTrp but I know what the engineer is doing he’s pulling the whistle in the cab like he’s pulling the string so the whistle can blow when there’s a crossing and that’s his job
Southern Pacific 786 is a 2-8-2 “Mikado” built by ALCO in 1916. It pulled trains through out the Southern Pacific system. It was retired and was donated to the city of Austin, Texas for display. It was restored back to operation in 1992. And operated excursions until being sidelined in 1999. Today, the locomotive is undergoing it’s rebuild for a return to operation.
Hope to see it back in action. I recall a tour of the original restoration.
I do believe that whistle would wake up the dead. I miss hearing the KATY trains that used to run through our little town.
As I understand it, the Katy whistles were distinctive with their sound and it seemed to have been noticeable by its characteristic tones. There are other steam whistles that shriek, too, and the Katy was not the only one.
The PRR had Bashee whistles as did the Reading, and an Engineer who was particularly good could make those N&W Hooters Shriek.
Sitting with my great grandma remembering when she was a kid hearing the old train run
Oh Wow. I Didn't know MKT Had Whistles. I can see why the Owner was being cautious with it. It really Sounds Eerie
Almost sounds like a NZR 5 chime, with the higher notes mixed in. Gorgeous.
Makes me shiver hearin that big bastard. I love a good sp 6 chime, but I wonder if they'll put this whistle on her again.
The Katy whistle belongs to a friend who had to adapt the connection for it to fit that locomotive. He was also our engineer and a avid Katy fan who arranged to have his whistle added for our Katy Historical Society excursion on that day. It was likely a one time opportunity.
@@KsTrp fair enough. Still a pretty haunting sound though. I also heard y'all were getting ready to put the frame back on the drivers pony and trailing truck in the not too distant future.
It honestly sounds like a 3 chime. Considering that this whistle was sick during this recording, I can’t help but wonder what it would’ve sounded like when it was fine...
I think I know why the whistle sounds like if a sound isn’t supposed to be heard on the whistle. As you already know that the whistle sounds Erie and shrieky, this is because the air nozzle connection between the whistle is either loose or has trouble fitting into the connector. My other guess would be the nut or bolt screw that connects and transfers the air into the whistle is loose, causing little air to escape from the air nozzle, and so what we hear is a shrieky tone interfering with the original sound the whistle SHOULD make.
Yes, the owner of the whistle, who was also the locomotive engineer, changed out the whistles on the steam engine and fittings were not the same. Since it was the first of two days with that Katy Pacific whistle, he was a bit cautious with it since it had not been used in years. I understood he made some adjustments for the second day, which most of us were not there to capture it. The original Balzen video may have some second day action but I have not checked back on it.
It wouldve been interesting if they kept the whistle on 786 along with the 6 chime, kinda like with 745, which has a 6 chime (and im assuming it still has it) a sp 5 chime desert screamer
I believe the correct town should be Burnet, TX not Burkburnett,TX .As a member of the KRHS at time I was on that excursion. the train left Cedar Park. We had about a 2 hour layover in Burnet while they turned the train on the wye. Burnet had a drug store that still had a working soda fountain that a lot of members enjoyed.
Thanks for the correction. I was on that excursion train too and as past president of the KRHS, I had the privilege to get a cab ride for a portion of the trip. That was a first for me. Had a great time.
This locomotive has been out of action since 2006, and it is STILL under restoration. The Austin Steam RR has been running diesels (not very interesting). Wonder when this loco will ever be working again, and why it's taken so long for its restoration?
Pixibobcat actually since 1999.
What a sorry situation! Guess the restoration came out to be very expensive. Thanks for the correction!
almost 3 million dollars or a little over 3 million dollars
Unbelievable! Wonder how long before they can raise enough money? Probably take another five years!
The ASTA needs to run to make money if anyone wants 786 restored. The investment in 442 happened in 2000 before restoration began, and since then many of the cars they've run are leased from private owners and not owned by the railroad. 786 needed a complete rebuild that'd challenge any railroad, and the operation in Cedar Park just isn't big enough of one to make that happen quickly
Didn't St.Louis Southwestern 819 Had a Whistle Like This Back in 1988?
Sounds like a ghost whistle
I can’t tell which whistle sounds worse, NKP 587’s cracked whistle or the MKT one in this video.
Many of us have noted the sound was not as good as it could have been. At that time, the whistle had not been used for years and there were issues fitting it to that locomotive. The engineer, who is also the owner of the whistle, was hesitant and careful with it the first day. It remained on that locomotive for one more day and I understood it was used with more confidence. Unfortunately I do not have video and sound from the second day.
What a sound! Is there any other footage of this kind of whistle in action?
Glad you like it. Tom shot some nice footage on that day at several locations. I edited a few from his footage to combine them into this one to give everyone an idea of what a Katy whistle sounded like.
@@KsTrp I wanna see if I can get a replica of this made. I know that Rizzoli had been making some solid whistles as of late
@@electrik_loss I recall seeing an article about the specific pitches used on the Katy whistles. It has been a while since I have seen it. One thing for sure, a Katy whistle is seldom heard.
@@KsTrpwhich article would that be?
@@KatyPacific382 I came across it while going through some of the M-K-T Employe’s Magazines. It explained the pitches used. However, I did not note the date of the magazine and attempting to find it again would be a challenge.
They must have taken advice from the Pennsylvania rr.
Sounds like one of the chimes is over blowing??
The old Katy Komet keening for the grade from beyond the grave...
Questions!
1. Did the person who own the whistle say which locomotive it's from and what number it was?
2. Is that whistle and possibly more MKT whistles still around and preserved?
3. is it a 3 chime or a 5 chime?
The owner knows which Katy Pacific locomotive that whistle came from but I would have to contact him for the number. It is a three chime and there is an article in one of the M-K-T Employes' Magazine about them and their tuning. I suspect there are others in collections but none that have been shared like this. A large, shop whistle is still around but passenger and freight locomotive whistles seem to be a challenge.
@@KsTrp awesome!! Can't wait to know the number of the engine that whistle belonged to
@@KatyPacific382 I contacted the owner and he was unable to identify which locomotive used that whistle. He only knows it likely came from a Pacific.
Never knew MKT had 3 chimes. They also used 5 chime whistles (seen a photo of one) that were of a Nathan style copy.
whistle sounds a little sick. nothing broke in it ?
The owner of the whistle, who was also engineer that day, was being cautious with it on this run. After reaching our destination they also found the connection they added was leaking a bit. On the return trip he finally had confidence in it and it sounded great. The man who video taped this did not tape the return trip.
I know who is pulling that whistle it’s the engineer why does he pull the whistle on 786 well I know why because of grade crossings
The engineer on that run owned the Katy whistle and they had to adapt it to the 786. His initial efforts were cautious until he felt he could let her go full throat.
@@KsTrp but I know what the engineer is doing he’s pulling the whistle in the cab like he’s pulling the string so the whistle can blow when there’s a crossing and that’s his job
Sounds like a ghost train
Is it normal for the whistle to be so shreeky?
sounds like screaming.
Compared to the 587, I would say that this whistle has found a worthy opponent.
It Sounds kinda like the UP 3985 Challengers Whistle, who agrees?
sounds like a screaming person