LASTA SP745 Florien & Zwolle, La. crossings April 2005

In 2005, the Louisiana Steam Train Association, (LASTA), criss-crossed Louisiana and Mississippi on a "Louisiana Purchase and Exploration Bicentennial Tour". The restored Southern Pacific, (SP), #745, a 2-8-2 class Mk-5 Mikado, led four cars on an excursion along the routes of past passenger trains, such as SP's Sunset Limited, KCS's Flying Crow, and IC's Panama Limited and City of New Orleans. For more info on LASTA, see: http://www.lasta.org/

This video was shot on a rainy morning, 4-11-2005, as SP745 moved north along KCS trackage between Lake Charles and Shreveport, La., near Florien, La. and the Pilgrim's Feed Mill near Zwolle, La. Engineer, Bill Johnson, is at the throttle, while LASTA President Bruce Brown keeps everything on track.
Two whistles were used on 745 during this trip. The first whistle that is heard during the first scene is a high-pitched signal whistle, which belonged to the Engineer, Bill Johnson, and was originally on a locomotive engineered by his father. The second whistle, heard after the train passes the crossing, is the low-pitch 6 Chime Southern Pacific Whistle, originally built in the Southern Pacific Sacremto, CA., steam shop for SP 4136, an AC-6 class 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward Locomotive in the 1930's. In the second scene, only the SP 6-chime whistle is heard.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• LASTA
• Louisiana
• Steam
• Train
• SP
• 745
• Locomotive
• Whistle
• KCS
• IC
• BNSF
• UP
• CN
• New
• Orleans

[52B52]

You are correct. McDonald Drive in Many, La. at the Pilgrim Feed Mill. Next stop was at the Zwolle station for a water fill from the local FD.

Don't despair - 745 is still alive: see lasta.org

[seagraver]

I believe the first whistle you hear is actually a KCS short bell 3 chime. If not, it is really close!

[xXDJIndeedXx]

If only i was around to catch this beauty.

Shame shame lol.

By the way, the second shot isn't in Zwolle nor is it near it.

It's in Many, LA

[Louisianamixtapeking]

That shit sounds terrifying 4real.

[gaycowboy31]

@Hypsan LOL it does sound like some ghost from the past I agree like a sreaming banshee

[Hypsan]

The whistle of the first train is amazingly terrifying -- like the cry of the banshee of something!! If I heard that scream at night from a distance, I'd have the old 12 gauge resting on my lap -- right after I made sure all the doors and windows were locked!!

[gaycowboy31]

I can figure out the second whistle to be a SP 6 chime but what about the high pitch one is it an American whistle someone told me it was off a chineese engine

[gaycowboy31]

I especilly like that old SP whistle on there very nice they gave us ne hell of a whistle salute the night we arrived in KC union station with our private railcars for our excursion to NOLA its a shame the engine didnt make it all the way it broke my heart I was due a cab ride I never got to do

[gaycowboy31]

I still like this engine best its a shame it died on us that day on Rich Mountain I was on the very rear car of that excursion that was a sad day going into NOLA without the steamer

[lasta745]

There is nothing like the haunting sound of a steam engine whistle. You did a great job of capturing the sounds of this unique whistle. Thanks.