stack talk

The sound made by the exhaust of a steam locomotive.

Noun

  1. The sound made by the exhaust of a steam locomotive.
    • […] Father [Clement C.] Kubesh began making long dashes after trains to insure the correct pitch of sound or the proper placing of his car for the approach of a locomotive. He soon had recorded the "stack talk" of every...
    • [T]he priest [Clement C. Kubesh] makes highly stylized recordings of train sounds. […] To him, every steam engine whistle has a recognizable quality and each puffing stack has its own "talk." […] One October, Father...
    • Enjoy the action as this giant 4-8-4 steam locomotive pulls heavy passenger trains over Christianburg Grade and Blue Ridge Grade. […] Highlights include […] Long, heavy trains with great stack talk - 2022, “Norfolk &...

Origin

From stack (noun) + talk (noun). Stack is a clipping of smokestack (“conduit atop a structure (such as a steam locomotive) allowing smoke to flow out”).