Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Photos, Videos: Beloved, Loud Pratt Steam Whistles Hail 2014
By
Scott Lynch
Published Jan 1, 2014
Modified Jan 1, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Scott Lynch / Gothamist
View all 26
By
Scott Lynch
Published Jan 1, 2014
Modified Jan 1, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A few hundred frigid but festive revelers steam-whistled-in the New Year last night at Pratt Institute's annual blow out. The beloved neighborhood tradition is led by Chief Engineer Conrad Milster—and this year's celebration may be one of the last of its kind.
As usual, Milster and his crew set up two semi-separate stream whistle worlds for the celebration. The calliope area was up and running at about 10:30 p.m., and people took turns at the keyboard playing that one part of the one song they learned as a kid. The main attraction, however, was the murderers' row of ten of Milster's most massive whistles, all different sizes and pitches, which were blasted simultaneously at midnight.
The steam whistle tradition grew out of Milster's personal interest and is not officially affiliated with the school. Pratt says that the December 31, 2014 steam whistle party—if Milster decides to hold it—will be the last one, because the school and the facilities are usually closed during the holidays.
For about 45 minutes thereafter, anyone could pick up a rope, pull as hard as possible, and "play" the whistles themselves. Note: When these monsters are fully opened up, and you're right up close trying to shoot some video, it is literally the loudest noise you will ever hear in your life.
Temperatures in the mid-20s made the super-heated engine room an especially popular hang out this year, and the famous Pratt cats didn't seem to mind the commotion one bit.
Tagged
brooklyn
Conrad Milster
fort greene
new years
pratt
pratt institute
pratt steam whistles
steam whistles
original
Scott Lynch
Photojournalist, food writer, preschool receptionist. Love NYC.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Would you live on a Halloween block? These Hackensackers live for it.
A guillotine, killer clowns, clownfish: They've got it all on Clinton Place.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 29, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Owl pellets and period equity: What's happening at NYC's public libraries this November
Also: Books!
By
Alec Hamilton
Arts & Entertainment
Owl pellets and period equity: What's happening at NYC's public libraries this November
Also: Books!
By
Alec Hamilton
How the Village Halloween Parade keeps its soul
By
Hannah Frishberg
'You Can See Everything' … as long as you go to Staten Island
By
Sonia Rao
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .