Large Scale Central

Sounds of the East Broad Top

Prototypes
#1

Good morning fellow EBT fans!

The EBT Webmaster has been looking for an EBT whistle sound for the website, so I learned how
to rip audio from AVI files last night. He might use a piece of this recording on the site, but
I thought some might enjoy the whole thing.

I recorded the October 9, 2005 Double Headed Photo Coal Train using the video mode
of a Fuji FinePix S700Z camera. Converted from AVI to MP3. This IS NOT a CD quality
recording, but it’s not bad.

The clip opens with a safety valve release, then you hear the chuff of 14 and 15
approaching the meadow north of Runk Road. As the engines break out of the woods,
14 sounds a crossing blow, followed by 15. They repeat the whistle sequence again
as they pass the photographers, then one more time before they drift into the woods
south of Runk Road. If you turn it up, you’ll hear the whistles echo through the
valley.

Download from:

http://jon.barnbeckplace.com/mp3/EBT_14-15-100905-001.MP3

or, for the link impaired:

http://tinyurl.com/sxvu3

Enjoy.

JR

#2

Wow Jon!!! Jan and I are sitting here at the breakfast table and get greated with a great sound. Took us both back immediately. To me, that had the perfect sound and you truely captured the flavor. I hope they do use it on the website. On the Thursday before the ECLSTS, we stoppped by the EBT with Denny and Karen Karner. I’ve got a few pictures I’ll upload. T’was the prettiest day we have ever been in the Valley.

For Jan and I, there was great enjoyment in introducing someone new to the East Broad Top

#3

OK, Ric…

 Pertaining to that first photo, I didn't realize that Jan had to be tied up, so she wouldn't stray far from the van and get lost.......

she’s gonna hit me, next time she sees me…

#4

In case you’re interested Phoenix Sound has/had an EBT chip. Mine is in Number 4 and has been performing flawlessly since 1997 or 1998. Wonderful full echo-like wail from the whistle.

#5

Andy,
Her reply when I showed her this was, “Your right!”. I guess that’s okay, Jane has already hit me.

#6

Great pictures Ric.

And way to go hijacking my thread :slight_smile:

If I had only thought to join you Thursday. Oh well, perhaps next year. Do we know the dates yet?

JR

#7

I heard Palm Sunday weekend and that they were moving the show to Thursday, Friday, Saturday, but I’ll want to see that fromthe big guys first. We’ve had the ECLSTS on Palm Sunday before.

#8

Great pictures, Ric! If I’d have thought ahead I could have joined you at the EBT. I really enjoyed my last visit there in 2001. Our club is sponsoring a bus trip out to there in the fall. Seems every time I plan on going out there something else pops up to interfere…

BTW, Jon, the file sounds great! Reminds me of when we rode the Cass last fall, they had a camera crew recording the run up to Bald Knob and the engineer was playing that whistle for all it was worth during the run-bys…:slight_smile:

#9
Andy Clarke said:
OK, Ric..... 
 Pertaining to that first photo, I didn't realize that Jan had to be tied up, so she wouldn't stray far from the van and get lost.......

she’s gonna hit me, next time she sees me…


Funny…I figgered that she had Ric on the other end of that leash to keep HIM from wandering off!

#10

I don’t suppose it’d be possible to get one’s hands on the AVI file … I’d like to see that!

And … have they switched the whistles on those locomotives? From what I remember, that’s 15 followed by 14 …

12 and 15 have whistles that sound very alike… only 12 has a lower general pitch.
14 is more musical, and can be recognized just about anyplace as 14 …
17 has that awful screech from where one chamber goes up overtones … but otherwise sounds like it’d be very similar to 15 if it didn’t.

16 I’ve only heard on air …

So if that’s 14 first and then 15, did they switch the whistles to keep 14’s going when it goes out for rebuild?

Matthew (OV)

#11
Matthew (OV) said:
I don't suppose it'd be possible to get one's hands on the AVI file ..... I'd like to see that!

And … have they switched the whistles on those locomotives? From what I remember, that’s 15 followed by 14 …

So if that’s 14 first and then 15, did they switch the whistles to keep 14’s going when it goes out for rebuild?

Matthew (OV)


No - I have it backward. I didn’t realize that until last night when I was ripping 15 and 14 alone. You are a much more leaned student of the East Broad Top than I am. 15 retains it’s original whistle, and 14’s will be silent or at least most of the season. If we are lucky the FRA will grant another extension to allow 14 to run at special events. That was Stanley’s hope last October anyway.

BTW, I’ve never heard 12 or 16. My first visit was October 2001 when 14, 15 and 17 were in steam. The Noon whistle salute was awesome!

I could upload the AVI, but I’d like to figure out some way to embed a copyright watermark. I don’t want to see it end up for sale on eBay by someone else! If your email will handle it, Ill forward it to you. Email me through LSC so I can get your address.

JR

JR

#12

E-mail on the way.

I’m kind of a plebe on the East Broad Top … but I never forget a whistle. :slight_smile:

I’ve also got the advantage of having heard all four at once… the last day #12 ever ran.

Matthew (OV)