The Singing Steam Whistle

While one is strolling along mid-Water Street in Vancouver British Columbia’s first neighborhoods (actually named Granville), they are greeted with the whistle from the Gastown steam clock, it is one of the only functioning steam-powered clocks in the world. Built in 1977, the clock's mechanism is driven by electricity; only the pipes on top are steam fueled. It sounds every 15 minutes, and marks each hour with little whistling symphonies.

The Gastown neighborhood of Gastown was Vancouver BC's first neighborhood and was named for "Gassy" John Deighton (November 1830 – May 23, 1875), a steamboat captain and barkeep who arrived in mid-1867, opening the area's first saloon.

The Gastown steam clock was made by in 1977 by horologist Raymond Saunders and metalwork specialist Doug Smith. At the time, it was considered either the first or second steam-powered clock ever built’ Incorporating a steam engine and electric motors, the clock displays the time on four faces and announces the quarter hours with a whistle chime that plays the Westminster Quarters.