Hear the Whistle Blow Event!
 On July 15th 2006, the Williamsville Depot
hosted its third Horn and Whistle Blow during the Williamsville "Old Home Days" Celebration. This years featured guest was Mr. Lee Alley and his wife Lavell, from Bristol Tennessee. Lee pulled into the depot with his 16 foot "Whizzle Machine" towed by a custom built Ford F900 Diesel Truck on Friday evening. This self contained trailer has all of Lee's whistles, a 185CFM Sullair compressor and a 125 gallon surge tank. Mr. Alley enjoys taking his whistles to railroad gatherings and community parades, all over the south.We also had a Diesel Horn Honkin' Rig which could accommodate any kind of Diesel Horn. Visitors were encouraged to bring their own Whistles and Horns if they wanted to hear and blow them on high volume air. Lee had many assorted adapters which will allow the mounting of any type or size of whistle. |
 "Lee's Whistle Machine and Big Rig from the working end. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "10 Whistles and two Diesel Horns on the Rack!. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "A view from the cab. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "Mark M, Lavell Alley, Lee Alley, Dave Fleenor, and Tom Stackhouse. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "5 Chime Boiler Tube replica of Casey Jones \"Whippoorwill Whistle\". ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
At exactly 11:00 am, Lee pulled one of eight nylon cords to start the show. First up was a 5 Chime Boiler Tube replica of Casey Jones "Whippoorwill Whistle." What a beautiful sound! Casey would have been proud! I brought along my horn blowing stand and four of my diesel horns and two of the Societies. About a half an hour into the event, Mark M. from Lockport, showed up with a pickup truck full of Marine Horns. |  "Mark M. and his collection of Nautical Horns. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "N&W 3 Chime Step Top. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
Over the next four hours we entertained the Village with the melodious sounds of Steam and Diesel Pneumatic Devices! In no specific order we heard Lee's N&W 3 Chime Step Top, the 5 Chime Casey Jones "Whippoorwill", 15" Handcock 3 Chime Step Top, a 1880's 3 Chime Crosby and a Lukenheimer Plain Bell Hooter |  "1880's 3 Chime Crosby. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
| A 3 Chime Virginia Creeper Plain Bell, and an N&W Y6b Hooter (like on #1218). C&O - Nathan K5LA, Nathan P5 and a NYC - Wabco E2. |
 "A 3 Chime N&W - Virginia Creeper Plain Bell - What a Sweet Sound! ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "N&W Y6b Hooter. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "C&O - Nathan K5LA. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
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 "Leslie 300 from the Lake Freighter the Kinsman Enterprise. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
From the Great Lakes we heard a huge Leslie 300 from the Lake Freighter the Kinsman Enterprise, from the "Niagara," a lake Erie Sand Ship, an Airchime KM200, a Cunningham A4 off the famous movie ship the "HMS Bounty," and finally a steam driven Leslie 425L from the "Algola Gulf" lake freighter. George S. couldn't get enough of its bone rattling bass! |
 "Cunningham A4 off the famous movie ship the HMS Bounty. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "An Airchime KM200 horn from the \"Niagara,\" a Lake Erie Sand Ship. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "Steam driven Leslie 425L from the \"Algola Gulf\" lake freighter. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
 "A Mom outfits one of her girls with proper ear protection before blowing the Nathan P5 on the air rack. ©2006 smph50 - Click to Enlarge (10K)-(100K)") |
| A great time was had by all in attendance including many of the town's folk who came by to visit to see where "all the
trains" were. Families brought their children to share what the sound of a Steam Locomotive roaring by the Depot used to sound like. A big Thank You has to go out to Lee for making his over 1200 mile journey, International Chimney for use of their Sullair compressor and Tom Stackhouse and his crew for their hospitality and the great looking Williamsville Depot. Please check out our 2nd 2004 Whistle Blow Event to see and hear more Horns and Whistles.
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