Nostalgia & History > A train whistle and WSM, Nashville

IIRC, some years ago either the NRHS or the RLHS bulletin published an article about the L&N's premier train heading south out of Nashville in the late afternoon. As the train passed the WSM transitter site, an open mike picked up the whistle, which was a sponsored "time signal" from "The Old Reliable", L & N Railroad.
I used to have a copy of that article, which included the announcer's script. Anyone have a hint when/where/who published it? Thanks.

Ed / Peoria, AZ

Better yet, is there a copy of the "Here comes the Pan-American" audio around?

This has been discussed extensively on the L&N/NC&StL Email List
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lnrr .

The Pan American's whistle was broadcast live as it passed the WSM tower south of Nashville. The location was later moved to Vine Hill Tower. If the train was running late the radio station would substitute a recording at the appropriate time. The broadcasts started in 1933 and ended in 1945.

According to WSM there are no recordings of any of these broadcasts. However, WSM does have one of the recordings of the Pan that was used as a substitute when the Pan was running late, and they play it on the air from time to time.

There are at least three Pan American records. Possibly the best know is by DeFord Bailey, the Grand Old Opry harmonica wizard. Next was Pan American Boogie by the Delmore Brothers, and finally a song by Hank Williams that has a brief mention of hearing the whistle on the radio (but was recorded after these broadcasts stopped).

A new years back, NPR did a feature on DeFord Bailey and the Pan American in a Lost and Found Sound segment. You can listen to it online, but unfortunately it's only available in Real Audio. There is a link in the links section of the email list.

There is an old postcard (that shows up regularly on eBay) that shows the Pan passing WSM's tower.

If you drive on I-65 south of Nashville you can see the WSM tower. They still use the same Blaw-Knox tower that was erected in the Thirties. (WLW in Cincinnati also has one of these towers.) Vine Hill Tower, which controlled the L&N/Tennessee Central junction, was demolished a few years ago, but you can still see the location next to I-65, north of Radnor Yard.