@trainmanben1 - I'd have to disagree, even though the MILW 261 is a great locomotive in her own right. Look up "Chesapeake & Ohio 614 70+ MPH" here on YT. That engine, the last steamer ever outshopped by a major locomotive manufacturer ('48 Lima), has been shown pulling a consist of 23 cars at more than 70 mph upgrade without even breathing hard. The Union Pacific has a couple of great locos, too - Northern #844 and Challenger #3985. Both are easily capable of over 70 mph.
Big northern type steamer.As far as steam locomotives go she pretty young.But i like the sound of her whistle.She also has a horn.In fact alot of steam locomotive had both whistle and horn.
@889TS - I have yet to see a steamer equipped with both a whistle and a horn - it's usually one or the other, but I think you have a great idea. I've seen video here on YT that shows Reading & Northern #425 nearly hitting a Jeep as the idiot crossed right in front of her. Too many non-railfans consider a steamer just a toy, not a huge machine weighing hundreds of tons that can kill them. If R&N 425 had a Nathan AirChime K5LA on her, it would have scared the bejeezus out of the Jeep driver!
@OldsVistaCruiser Steamers with both a whistle and a horn were surprisingly common in the '40s and '50s. Apparently the horns were more commonly used back in the day, but the surviving ones today use the whistle rather than the comparatively ugly single-note horns. The first steamer so equipped that comes to mind is SP 4449, though they rarely use it.
I LOVE 261's whistle! It would have drawn me to trackside every time I heard it, like a moth to a flame. The sound is scary, the way it was intended to be--she's coming and coming fast, and everybody and everything better get out of her way!
It's actually still on the locomotive, as the fireman's-side whistle. It is air actuated, therefore the pitch is not variable anymore. I'll try to locate a clip where it was used... I think there's one from the Duluth trip when the whistle cord broke.
ITS STILL ON IT but we hate Using it. I personaly think it sounds like Crap and we like the ATSF 5 chime alot better. Well I guess any whistle is better then the airhorn on her.
The two whistles at the end are for the trains departure. That is why the smoke was so black (the fireman was running up the coal in anticipation of the steam that would be needed to get 261 and her train moving!)
wow, thirty seconds. pretty cool dude! that last puff of dark smoke really is something to see. great job. you are quite the train fanactic. that's great!
Awesome whistle on 261!
Trainspotter8824 6 months ago
i hope they save her.
BNSF9250 7 months ago
@BNSF9250 They said they were bringing her back. Remember?
Dinosorable 4 months ago
@Dinosorable they better not mess with its whistle.
BNSF9250 4 months ago
@BNSF9250 Agreed!
Dinosorable 4 months ago
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nyc3001 7 months ago
@trainmanben1 - I'd have to disagree, even though the MILW 261 is a great locomotive in her own right. Look up "Chesapeake & Ohio 614 70+ MPH" here on YT. That engine, the last steamer ever outshopped by a major locomotive manufacturer ('48 Lima), has been shown pulling a consist of 23 cars at more than 70 mph upgrade without even breathing hard. The Union Pacific has a couple of great locos, too - Northern #844 and Challenger #3985. Both are easily capable of over 70 mph.
OldsVistaCruiser 8 months ago
@OldsVistaCruiser - Oops - I was wrong. Lima outshopped a Berkshire for the NKP in '49. My apologies!
OldsVistaCruiser 8 months ago
Big northern type steamer.As far as steam locomotives go she pretty young.But i like the sound of her whistle.She also has a horn.In fact alot of steam locomotive had both whistle and horn.
889TS 1 year ago
@889TS - I have yet to see a steamer equipped with both a whistle and a horn - it's usually one or the other, but I think you have a great idea. I've seen video here on YT that shows Reading & Northern #425 nearly hitting a Jeep as the idiot crossed right in front of her. Too many non-railfans consider a steamer just a toy, not a huge machine weighing hundreds of tons that can kill them. If R&N 425 had a Nathan AirChime K5LA on her, it would have scared the bejeezus out of the Jeep driver!
OldsVistaCruiser 8 months ago
@OldsVistaCruiser If #425 had a K5LA, I wouldn't want to see her.
nyc3001 7 months ago
@OldsVistaCruiser Steamers with both a whistle and a horn were surprisingly common in the '40s and '50s. Apparently the horns were more commonly used back in the day, but the surviving ones today use the whistle rather than the comparatively ugly single-note horns. The first steamer so equipped that comes to mind is SP 4449, though they rarely use it.
Gunny761 5 months ago
I LOVE 261's whistle! It would have drawn me to trackside every time I heard it, like a moth to a flame. The sound is scary, the way it was intended to be--she's coming and coming fast, and everybody and everything better get out of her way!
JoeRailfan 1 year ago
That whistle is one of the reasons she's my favorite train!
Dinosorable 1 year ago
AWESOME!! Beautiful whistle!!! *-*
augustoblues89 1 year ago
Just Awesome! To bad its gone forever.
bigfishcatcherdw 2 years ago 2
@bigfishcatcherdw Don't worry. The put the 261 back on track. :D
Dinosorable 1 year ago
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joetish89 2 years ago
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joetish89 2 years ago
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joetish89 2 years ago
Owned by the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
tridentum 2 years ago
@tridentum I think they only operate it... Steamtown U.S.A. Has owned it since the 1970/80's
Stetsonater 1 year ago
@tridentum But they put 261 back on track.
Dinosorable 1 year ago
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cpac4400 3 years ago
WTF awesome whistle!!!
sUpErShIeFbOy 3 years ago 2
AWESOME!!
ralphiemayphan 3 years ago 8
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cpac4400 3 years ago
Beautiful Whistle!
CSX6000 3 years ago 15
I listened to the NKP 675. I like this whistle better. I like the the lower more throaty sound this whistle has.
JollyMcStanson 3 years ago
765 has a 4 chime this is a 5 & 765 Has 759's whistle
check out nkp 759
Stetsonater 2 years ago
that is awsome i would kill to see that engin
shininghappyperson7 3 years ago
I was lucky enough to run into 261 west of Minneapolis today while it was apparently out for a photo shoot. What a treat to watch and listen to!
uh1hce 3 years ago
is there anyway we can sugest they use the ALCO 3 chime whistle on their 2008 trips?
BNSF9250 3 years ago
OOoo Riiight!!! Very Nice!
dwkcamman611 3 years ago
I caught this train in Hastings after riding it on Saturday.
IowaRocker1 4 years ago
what ever happend to the raspy sounding whistle that used to be on it? that was my favorite
mikes47jeep 4 years ago
That was the broken whistle.
smoothie6ft3 4 years ago
It's actually still on the locomotive, as the fireman's-side whistle. It is air actuated, therefore the pitch is not variable anymore. I'll try to locate a clip where it was used... I think there's one from the Duluth trip when the whistle cord broke.
TrainMan404 4 years ago
It was the original Alco 3-chime whistle... The engine now regularly uses a Santa Fe 6-Chime Whistle.....
trainmaster844 3 years ago
ITS STILL ON IT but we hate Using it. I personaly think it sounds like Crap and we like the ATSF 5 chime alot better. Well I guess any whistle is better then the airhorn on her.
Conductor261 3 years ago
@Conductor261 You mean you hate her whistle?
Dinosorable 1 year ago
@Conductor261 You mean you hate 261's whistle?
Dinosorable 1 year ago
DAMN SOO TIGHT...
menacethug 4 years ago 2
The two whistles at the end are for the trains departure. That is why the smoke was so black (the fireman was running up the coal in anticipation of the steam that would be needed to get 261 and her train moving!)
TrainMan404 4 years ago
wow, thirty seconds. pretty cool dude! that last puff of dark smoke really is something to see. great job. you are quite the train fanactic. that's great!
designbymonica 4 years ago