Whistle for Millie

SimonWood · Post by **SimonWood** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 6:58 pm

I know some folk have fitted working whistles to Millie... But what's the easiest way to get Millie to whistle?

I've just ordered a Millie - my first live steam loco - and a working whistle is high on my wishlist. But I don't think anyone offers a whistle kit for Millie(?) and I don't really have a clue how complicated fitting one of the ubiquitous Regner whistles to Millie would be.

If your Millie whistles - how did you do it, please, and how difficult was it?

RuneK · Post by **RuneK** » Wed Feb 10, 2016 10:29 pm

I have a Millie too, and the question came up.

Richard Huss has fitted a whistle: http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/about3258.html

and RC:
http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/about6746.html

SimonWood · Post by **SimonWood** » Thu Feb 11, 2016 6:38 pm

Thanks! That's both intimidating (drilling and hacksawing my new Millie?) and inspiring (someone has already done the hard work and shown how it can be done).

Doable but not straightforward: probably not something I'll rush into!

By the way, does you Millie whistle now RuneK?

RuneK · Post by **RuneK** » Thu Feb 11, 2016 8:45 pm

No, I havn't really considered it yet. It is timeconsuming, and must be done right.

Dr. Bond of the DVLR · Post by **Dr. Bond of the DVLR** » Sat Feb 13, 2016 9:55 pm

Hullo,

I used a valve which DLRDan built (perhaps he can share the well thought out design on here?) and bodged together my own whistle from K&S brass tube. I didn't have a lathe at the time. The two are connected with my favorite lego pneumatic tubing and work well. I've had to look far back to find a good video with the whistle in action. (Bit of a throw back for the forum veterans...)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNouNSmJftE
The whistle is mounted in the side tank so no holes needed to be drilled.
You could buy a valve from DJB and make your own whistle, alternatively I have seen a regner whislte kit being used on a milly but you would require an M(something) tap and drill to drill into the take off for the water gauge glass.
Something like this:
http://www.amalgamatedconserves.org.uk/ ... 4531740806
I can vouch for the quality of the regner whistle valve kits as I fitted one to my Regner Vincent and I think they are excellent value for money.
I hope this helps.

SimonWood · Post by **SimonWood** » Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:40 am

Thank you Mr Bond! Drilling the holes worries me a bit (as RuneK says, it's got to be done right!) so there's something to be said for avoiding that! But bodging a whistle is somewhat beyond me... However, the effect is terrific in the video - what a lovely sound.

Drill and tapping into the water gauge take off sounds even more daunting than drilling the cab sheet. I'm coming round to the idea that after plenty of practice, I might attempt drilling the cab sheet!

DLRdan · Post by **DLRdan** » Sun Feb 14, 2016 12:18 pm

Mr. Bond of the DVLR:116232 wrote:Hullo,

I used a valve which DLRDan built (perhaps he can share the well thought out design on here?)
.

Remember I made that valve 3 or 4 years ago and I'v slept since then !

It depends on what other fittings you are having on your millie where things can go. As its your first steamer then a full kit like the regner one will probably be the easiest for you to fit. All you will need then is a modified fitting to put the valve onto. The other option is to buy/build the parts separately.

SimonWood · Post by **SimonWood** » Sun Feb 14, 2016 12:53 pm

Many thanks DLRdan. Yes, it's a new Millie, ordered unadorned and the only thing I want to fit immediately is a Summerlands Chuffer (which looks do-able even for an inexperienced steamer like me - measure, cut down the exhaust pipes, and push fit). Anyway, that's up the other end of things, so shouldn't interfere. At some point I will no doubt want to add water top up paraphernalia and pressure gauge etc. but all of that is for another day and anyway the whistle takes priority..

So the Regner kit sounds good - but is the modified fitting it requires something that is commercially available...? Mr Bond suggested I'd need to drill and tap this myself but I wouldn't really know where to begin with that.

DLRdan · Post by **DLRdan** » Sun Feb 14, 2016 10:29 pm

Its not difficult to do (he says), I'd offer to do it for you but that the one tap I haven't got !

Keith S · Post by **Keith S** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 6:27 am

I wanted a resonator whistle for my "Billy" locomotive, so I Emailed DJB engineering directly and he was quite helpful. I love the whistle and it wasn't difficult to install. Mr Bailey even drove to Roundhouse and picked up a part with which to make the fitting for the steam turret. It might be worth getting in contact with him and seeing if he has any suggestions. It may be that there is a resonator that does not require that you do any cutting- they come in different shapes and sizes.

I am very satisfied with my DJB whistle, and as Tag Gorton says, the steam comes out the right place!

SimonWood · Post by **SimonWood** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 10:24 am

Ok. It looks like my choice is this:

- Parts from DJB - must drill cab sheet (and maybe cut into tank) but steam comes out in the right place
- Regner Whistle Kit - must drill and tap water gauge take off

I will mull this over, but I think I'll need to wait for the loco so I can have it in front of me when I made a choice. I thought I might be able to get the parts ordered now so I could fit the whistle straight away when the loco arrives, but this probably isn't something to rush into.

SKGLB · Post by **SKGLB** » Mon Feb 15, 2016 10:27 am

Seen on ebay

Has anyone experience with this steam whistle.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brass-Live-St ... SwstxVWi~z

Gerald

williamfj · Post by **williamfj** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 4:54 pm

Bit late to the party I know but I was waiting until the most recent running day to take some pictures of my Millie's whistle arrangement. The valve is mounted on the water filler turret and the whistle is held in place by a bracket soldered onto the tank.

She had a push type valve but as it had a tendency to leak it was replaced with an old blower valve meaning I can 'play' it to some extent!

The whistle isn't visible from normal viewpoints.

SimonWood · Post by **SimonWood** » Mon Feb 22, 2016 10:13 pm

williamfj:116405 wrote:Bit late to the party I know

Not late at all! As it involves a bit more than fitting a Millie-compatible kit, I've not ordered anything or decided what to do yet. Indeed, if anything, it's a bit early. I think I'll understand these pictures better once my Millie arrives and I've got a point of reference!

Can I ask where you got your whistle from - and how difficult was it to fit? It looks incredible neat.

williamfj · Post by **williamfj** » Tue Feb 23, 2016 12:31 am

Thanks, I believe that Barry Milner made the whistle and I know he fitted it, I've no doubt if it was difficult he'd have made me know!

Bill/Rubery · Post by **Bill/Rubery** » Mon Mar 28, 2016 3:11 am

Hello, I have a whistle on my 2003 Millie that runs off the boiler take-off that would normally have the water glass thingy there. I have a two pipe screw on attachment. One pipe goes to the whistle under a false side tank and the other pipe goes up the chimney for dramatic steam effects...for photographs. Amazing what a bit of imagination can get you!!

SimonWood · Post by **SimonWood** » Mon Apr 04, 2016 10:03 am

Bill/Rubery:117013 wrote:Hello, I have a whistle on my 2003 Millie that runs off the boiler take-off that would normally have the water glass thingy there. I have a two pipe screw on attachment. One pipe goes to the whistle under a false side tank and the other pipe goes up the chimney for dramatic steam effects...for photographs. Amazing what a bit of imagination can get you!!

Thanks for that description.

My Millie having arrived, I've run her a couple of times, now I'm starting to get my head around how these various options would be fitted.

SimonWood · Post by **SimonWood** » Fri Dec 02, 2016 10:20 pm

A somewhat overdue update on my Millie’s whistle: I bought a Regner whistle.

To recap the two problems: the whistle has an M5 thread; and I wanted to keep the spare outlet so I could fit a water filler valve.

The solution is thanks to Mr Tony Bird, of this parish. As far as I’m concerned, Tony is an alchemist - where I see just a lump of square section brass, he sees a new steam turret. Bearing in mind I’ve never used a lathe before, all of this was a huge learning experience. My thanks to Tony for teaching me so much!

This pic shows the piece in progress - the bush on the front is for the regulator, the hole is for the supplied banjo bolt goes through the top, take off on the right for fitting a pressure gauge, if I choose to, later. Still to come - drill and tap a hole for the whistle valve.

Here it is fitted, with the valve.

The whistle itself we fitted underneath the cab.

It works! All the plumbing is fine. But, alas, it's a bit hissy. It sounds quite pure running on air (sorry, no video) just not so good on steam. Not sure why… Insufficient pressure? Condensation? The pipe runs inside the side tank where it’s presumably kept nice and warm, and though the valve weeps slightly, this should also help to keep the pipe warm.

Anyway, it's a whistle! It works! This is fun

LNR · Post by **LNR** » Fri Dec 02, 2016 10:41 pm

Nice job, your obviously completely hooked now Simon.
Have often wondered why Roundhouse don't provide a manifold as an accessory, perhaps too much leverage on the banjo bolt! All sorts of reasons for an extra steam line or two though.
Grant.

tom_tom_go · Post by **tom_tom_go** » Fri Dec 02, 2016 11:03 pm

You are very fortunate to have someone who is willing to teach you to use a lathe, I would love that opportunity.

Regner whistles need to be mounted at a slight angle so that any water can pour out and also the whistle must not be touching anything as this can alter the tone. Any crap in the whistle from dirty water can change the tone as well so give it a blast out on air or carb cleaner.

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