On the return trip 765 made a stop in Jim Thorpe to let the passengers off and walk around. While entering the station R&N 425 was patiently waiting on an adjacent track where the two battled it out in the gorge!
This was literally the best day of my life. Unfortunately we didn't see the whistle battle, but we heard it while we were eating in a restaurant up the street. We rode in the 3:00 pm train for R&N 425. We pulled over into a siding during the ride, and let NKP 765 pass us. Absolutely great day!!! They passed by us pretty quick so we got a big gust of wind in our car when they did. Never will forget August 23, 2015!!
Our European brothers often ask why us Americans are so whistle happy. Well, the answer is somewhat simple. to bring steam anywhere in this country is a feat on its own, and when conquered is worthy of celebration; especially when two steam locomotives are able to have a meet such as between 765 and 425!
+Kleman09 - well said. A whistle is a scream of defiance against the relentless march of time, and a notice to all that I survive, and am going nowhere soon. A whistle is an announcement as much as it is a statement, and a steam whistle heralds the coming of a train, of tradition, and of the once-beating heart of a nation.
Very well said! I must say....our American, whistles...Have strong sounds! Earth shaking! Unlike....the European (toot-toot) whistles, that I find quit unattractive. Lol. Nothing compares to AMERICAN STEAM! LOUD AND PROUD!!🇺🇸
That was one of the best days of my life! I very much enjoyed that trip that day. The second day I saw from videos on here that 425 was out on the mainline and 765 just went speeding past her. the first day was THE day to see one of the best whistle battles I ever seen. Kudos to NS, FWRHS and RBMN for putting on one of the best mainline excursions I ever rode.
That was an amazing competition. I'm really fascinated by the contrast between the two locomotives' whistles. 425 has a more classic pleasant sounding whistle, while 765 has a more ferocious, monstrous, louder, and powerful type. And the echo that comes along with it is bone-chillingly amazing.
God, I love the NKP 765. That's the quintessential American steam locomotive that dominated rail travel across the country in the first half of the 20th Century. Such raw power, such machinery, and that iconic whistle blast! It doesn't get much better than that.
The way 765 approaches 425 like that reminds me of the “You’re approaching me?” scene from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, with 765 being Jotaro and 425 being Dio XD
@Matthew Pastrikos Well. 425's whistle at the time was a 3 chime. 765's is a Nathan 6 chime. The more chimes you have, the quieter whistle. Even though 6 chimes are LOUD.
Imo, the 425's 3 chime wins, 3 chimes are just plain beautiful whistles, and they are the loudest of all, though 5 chime is more famous thanks to sierra 3. Anyways big boy 4014 and daylight both have 3 chimes
These sound like my friend and I playing an FPS game on roblox. Mercilessly screaming at our computers and our parents downstairs like “what the heck is going on”
Naturally you’d see this more at a heritage railway at like Strasburg what do you see this with two mainline engines that haul these cool excursions is rare and amazing. I’m betting maybe one day this could happen again and if it does let’s have 765 blast it’s whistle with 2106 or with both 425 and 2106
