@@DeathValleyLumberCompany It's the Cast Brass D&RGW one that the #486 has always worn? Because it doesn't even sound remotely similar to the one that #486 has worn since 2007? Here's a video of it from back in 2019 with its phenomenal whistle. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dVdUyRzD97Q.htmlsi=ePsynWilVEdgjQOd
Yeah I don’t think it’s 486’s whistle anymore to be honest. It really doesn’t sound much like 486’s except when blown in a very specific way, like how it’s blown at 0:55, but even then not exactly. If it is 86’s old whistle, something catastrophic has happened to it.
Coal has started too many fires and the mine they and C&TS use is shutting down. Also, it does nothing to the horsepower. The only difference is that it’s boiling the water with oil.
The reason the D&SNG is converting locomotives to oil burners is because a cinder from the coal fired trains set alight the 416 fire in 2018. The fire burned millions of acres and put the outskirts of Durango in extreme danger. Not only that, but the coal mine the D&SNG and C&TS used is shutting down. Burning motor oil makes it less likely to cause fires (no embers, thus no more spark arrestors needed), is more efficient and clean, and is easier to acquire. Also, whoever told you it cuts horsepower in half doesn’t know what they’re saying, the D&SNG locomotives still have the same HP and tractive effort as before.
