Busch Gardens Railway
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Luckily this one happened as they stopped at Festa station so it wasn’t as big of a deal as last time. Happened in June I believe and took them until just a couple weeks ago to get red back in service.
So apparently the train whistles have been changed to a higher pitched, quieter whistle. I guess our friends at Kingsmill complained for 50 years about it and that was all they could take.
One more nostalgic thing gone.
One more nostalgic thing gone.
Noooo. The train whistle sound is my favorite BGW sound. Literally every time I visit the park I comment on how much I love the train whistle.
That blows… no pun intended.
That blows… no pun intended.
Could you be talking about the other whistle they use when waving at children for example along the route? I’m not sure if that came off correctly, I’m not a train expert, but I’ve definitely heard 2 types of whistles on the train.
Can confirm from a friend who works on the railroad that Balmoral currently has one of the old 3 chime whistles from the early 90s. I’ve seen a video from that time somewhere but I can’t find it.
Edit: found it! Whistle is at around 30 second mark. (Never shared links here, hopefully it works)
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
Edit: found it! Whistle is at around 30 second mark. (Never shared links here, hopefully it works)
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
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I actually don’t hate that whistle. Dollywood uses a similar whistle and it sounds awesome. I find that 3 chime to sound more like there’s an actual coal fired steam train going.
The whistles they had been using were appropriate to the style of locomotives. Chime whistles are more traditional in America locomotives. At least they’re not using the same ones Tampa has which are ridiculously over sized for the scale of the locomotives. They’d be more appropriate on the Dollywood locomotives.
Actually, this 3 chime whistle is somewhat appropriate for 661 as it is based on a Caledonian Railway locomotive. While the only two Caledonian Railway locomotives in regular service (#828 and #419) currently have single chime whistles, this “new” 3 chime that 661 has is not all wrong. LNER in the UK had 3 chime whistles on their high speed passenger locomotives such as Mallard. Is it completely right? No. But it is somewhat appropriate.
As for 238, yes, the current Kahlenberg #119 whistle it has is the most appropriate whistle for it. German operated railways typically equipped their locomotives with hooter style single chime whistles, or single chime peanut whistles.
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That sounds almost like EP Ripley’s whistle at Disneyland. Assuming it still has that whistle.
Also, ever since going to the park for the first time, the whistles remind me of those of the narrow gauge engines from Thomas.
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...everything with BGW because they don't seem to understand that they chose to buy houses that close to a park that isn't going anywhere.
At the park now, at the front gate, and whatever train is running sounds different. Not nearly as deep.
I hate the new whistle. It sounds like a toy train.
I hate the new whistle. It sounds like a toy train.
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Old 3 chime whistle on Balmoral castle
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The whistle to me sounds like one of those little wooden train horns that you blow into.
Blue's whistle shouldn't be this hated. This video showcases several different British steam whistles that would have been present during the time period of the Caledonian Railway.
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source This video showcases an actual Caledonian Railway engine's whistle:
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source If anything, this should be a very welcome change, because all it is doing is increasing the historical accuracy of the train.
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source This video showcases an actual Caledonian Railway engine's whistle:
Direct Link to Embedded Media Source If anything, this should be a very welcome change, because all it is doing is increasing the historical accuracy of the train.
I don't hate the idea of each train having it's own unique whistle. Also I'm all for authenticity, it's just jarring to hear a change after all these years.
Yeah, there’s nothing inherently wrong with the new whistle. I just really loved the old one so I’m sad it’s gone.
It is a little head-scratching that, of all things, the train whistle sound was something they felt needed fixing.
It is a little head-scratching that, of all things, the train whistle sound was something they felt needed fixing.
It wasn't a fix, they did it because of the 50th anniversary.
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