Don B Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is the steam whistle on SP 4449 original or did it
> come from another Daylight?

The current whistle is indeed from another SP GS class 4-8-4, i.e. NOT originally from 4449. For what it's worth, the SP GS class locomotives originally had air actuated steam whistles, meaning that the Engineer only had to press down on a small brass lever, which sent compressed air to a large cylinder that opened the steam supply valve to the whistle. In other words, there was no "playing" of the steam whistle, as it was either "on" or "off". Since the Engineers on the SP rarely ever used the steam whistle, as they preferred the big air horn, also operated by another small brass lever, the steam whistles were rarely heard.

The current whistle on 4449, purchased by Martine Hansen, has been cleaned up, and the big air operated cylinder removed. Thus, the whistle is lever operated by the Engineer, and can be "played".