Steam whistle detail up close. The Little -A-Merrick-A Amusement Park. Marshall Wisconsin USA. September 2007.

My Brother in law Ralph took this photo on Labor Day Weekend 2007, in Marshall Wisconsin.

This is an up close view of a steam whistle used on the 16" guage live steam locomotives of the parks Whiskey River Railroad.

Multi chimed or toned whistles like the one seen here, came about during the late 1800's. The melodious multiple harmony toned effect, is achieved through the hollow whistle chamber. The chamber has partition walls, while each individual chamber section is of varying lenghts inside. The effect is much like playing a chord on a piano. North American steam whistles varied from 3 to 5 or six chimed models. 5 was pretty standard during the late steam era. Some railroads like the Norfolk & Western, used single chime, or single chamber whistles that were called Hooter Whistles. These whistles would make a flat sounding single toned "Hoot". Preserved 1875 built Eureka & Palisades 4-4-0 # 4 has this type of whistle, as does preserved Virginaia & Truckee 4-4-0 # 75 the Inyo at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City Nevada. It is operated for visitors occasionally. Single chime steam whistles were commonplace mostly during the 1800's in America.
Sigle chime hooter whistles sometimes would sound like a barking dog in the distance.