Sounds From Long Ago: Putt-Putt Cars

A C. B. & Q branch line ran past the grade school that I attended many years ago, and one of the treats we had as kids was seeing and hearing a Fairmont section car going by during our recess breaks. When the rail inspector slowed down we always loved it when he opened up the throttle and accelerated with his putt-putt-putt; so I love to check out the Fairmont engines we see at engine shows. This engine has a great set of pipes added, but I guess the only way to hear one of these making real, authentic sounds is to find one in use at a railroad museum. In addition to the coasting, backfires, and loud putt-putts, these engines need the sounds of steel wheels on rails to be correct.