Favourite electric train motor sound.

[swt class 450]

What is your favourite electric train motor sound? This can be a EMU or an Electric Locomotive or a Tram. It can also be in foreign countries.

My favourite in the UK is the Siemens Desiro 350 / 360 / 380 / 444 / 450 / 700 (strangely on third rail only) / 707 motor sound.

I also really like the 365 / 465/2 / 465/9 / 466 Networker sounds. The 465/0 and 465/1 also use to have a really good sound with their nice Brush motors but unfortunately they have all now been replaced with boring Hitachi motors. Luckily the 365 and 465/2 and 465/9 and 466 still have their nice Alstom motors. The 1996 stock also has a similar really nice motor sound.

The class 323 are also very good. They have a very unique sound.

The old T68A (but strangely not the T68) and T69 also had a really nice motor sound.

Finally the 334 / 458 / 460 have a fairly good sound as well. And the 1995 stock also does.

In other countries the NSB BM72 in Norway has a brilliant sound. Especially when it is decelerating and accelerating. This may actually be my overall favourite.

The Copenhagen Metro trains also have a really good sound. They sound just like the T68A and T69 trams.

Then the Taurus locomotives in Germany / Austria / Hungary have a nice interesting sound. It must be one of the strangest train sounds. It sounds like a musical instrument.

What are your favourites?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

The 444 and 450 motor sounds seem a little different from the rest of the pre-700 units, don't know if it's linked to them being power limited.

S stock sounds like there's two motor phases, when they start accelerating, you can hear a distinct change in the motor noise, no idea as to the cause of the difference.

The 442s have a nice sound, shame that they'll loose that when they get re-tractioned

 

[DarloRich]

i have no idea what motor powers an electric train. Can I choose a class 91?

 

[RichJF]

Have you heard the new Class 88? Awesome sound. Not my favourite to travel on but the best to listen to is the Class 323.

 

[D365]

I also really like the 365 / 465/2 / 465/9 / 466 Networker sounds. The 465/0 and 465/1 also use to have a really good sound with their nice Brush motors but unfortunately they have all now been replaced with boring Hitachi motors. Luckily the 365 and 465/2 and 465/9 and 466 still have their nice Alstom motors. The 1996 stock also has a similar really nice motor sound.

The Brush motors are still in place, they have not been replaced. It's the traction control packages on the BREL/ABB-built units that were exchanged and that's what changed the sound.

 

[Blindtraveler]

All networkers although not a fan of the /0 and /1s now, 323s, LU 96TS, orrigional Croydon trams, LU 09 stock, LU 92 stock, electrostars.

 

[swt class 450]

I forgot to mention the 323s. They are definitely one of my favourites as well. They have a brilliant motor sound.

I hadn't heard an 88 before. But i have just looked on Youtube and they do sound quite good.

 

[RichmondCommu]

My favourite would have to be the class 76.

 

[DarloRich]

Have you heard the new Class 88? Awesome sound. Not my favourite to travel on but the best to listen to is the Class 323.

it sounds like an electrostar!

 

[gallafent]

Montreal Metro … which /nearly/ plays the opening three notes of Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man each time pulling away from stationary. It became so associated with the system that it was appropriated as the tune for the doors-closing chime in more recent times!

• The original sound
• Its adoption as the door chime

 

[Clansman]

Class 385s for me, although I am fond of the 700's (not the typical Desiro one though)

 

[Bletchleyite]

This is the only nice sounding modern kit - it is completely genuine and not faked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3cdL-HkfIU
(video of OeBB Taurus loco with musical scale on departure)

though I believe a software update has lost it on some of them. Other than that it has to be classic DC traction motors. Modern whine sounds horrible to me. The worst modern whine I have experienced is the very high frequency notes on the electric buses operating on my local route, it's almost as horrible as the "Mosquito" teenager repellent (I have very good hearing for a 37 year old).

 

[507021]

It's the Mark 3 and PEP stock for me, although I do like the noise the 323s make as well.

 

[Ayman Ilham]

Top 5 EMU sounds:
1. Velaro (ICE 3 / Class 374)
2. Class 323 (unique)
3. Class 317/319/321
4. Class 375/377/387
5. Class 365/465

 

[Peter0124]

I quite like the 318/320s motor sound and also the 390s aswell

 

[littledude]

This is the only nice sounding modern kit - it is completely genuine and not faked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3cdL-HkfIU
(video of OeBB Taurus loco with musical scale on departure)

though I believe a software update has lost it on some of them. Other than that it has to be classic DC traction motors. Modern whine sounds horrible to me. The worst modern whine I have experienced is the very high frequency notes on the electric buses operating on my local route, it's almost as horrible as the "Mosquito" teenager repellent (I have very good hearing for a 37 year old).

Nothing to do with "software updates" - the 'U4' series Taurus locos sound almost like a 189/193 - that's the OBB 1216s and PKP EU-44s at least

 

[E_Reeves]

Definitely class 323 for me! Love going to new street to hear them

 

[3141]

For me, one outstanding sound was the one made by some of the earlier (up to 1925) standard stock on the Underground, when moving off and picking up speed. Some London trams made a similar sound. Another favourite was the sound of the Underground O and P stocks when fitted with Metadyne equipment. (I've used this thread for a bit of nostalgia!)

 

[43096]

Nothing to do with "software updates" - the 'U4' series Taurus locos sound almost like a 189/193 - that's the OBB 1216s and PKP EU-44s at least

Austrian 1216s (not just ÖBB), PKP EU44s, SZ 541s, Italian E190s, German registered 183s and probably others I have forgotten.

In simple terms they are - as you say - 189 internals in a modified Taurus bodyshell. There are significant differences in construction with a more conventional four cab doors and different cab structure.

As you say, the sound is nothing to do with software updates, the ES64U and ES64U2 have GTO based power converters, whereas ES64U4 has IGBT.

 

[MatthewRead]

The best EMU sounds are
Class 321
Class 322
Class 320
Class 317
Class 318
Class 319

 

[randyrippley]

There can only be one contender: The trams of the Manx Electric Railway.

 

[swt_passenger]

The 444 and 450 motor sounds seem a little different from the rest of the pre-700 units, don't know if it's linked to them being power limited.

It isn't primarily because that stock specifically is power limited, because the whole Southern Region is power limited as far as other modern EMUs such as Electrostars are concerned. It's more than likely that Siemens have just chosen different discrete electrical frequencies for their traction converter when operating on DC, compared to other products such as Bombardier's.

It usually also gets mentioned that the 350s sound is different when on AC but was just the same as 450s when they ran on DC on the SN part of the third rail network.

 

[Hadders]

I like the whining sound of the 365s

 

[AM9]

The best EMU sounds are
Class 321
Class 322
Class 320
Class 317
Class 318
Class 319

The class 306 EMUs (ex LNER design) were interesting.They had conventional DC motors wired for series/parallel use because of their original configuration for 1500VDC OLE, just like the class 506s used on the Manchester, Hyde and Glossop line. They would pull away in series config., then at about 20-30 mph, (try to) switch over to parallel config. Sometimes it would take 6 or more attempts with loud clacking of circuit breakers before the motors picked up again, especially up Brentwood Bank.

 

[TurboFintan]

'Musik' Taurus/EuroSprinter locos. In the UK it's the class 319s.

 

[Silverlink]

Class 319/321 best traction ever

 

[DenmarkRail]

Rail Jets...

Do, doo, dooo, doooo, doooooo, dooooooooo

 

[D365]

The best EMU sounds are
Class 321
Class 322
Class 320
Class 317
Class 318
Class 319

Or for simplicity's sake, you could have just stated all Mk3-derived EMUs.

 

[MatthewRead]

Or for simplicity's sake, you could have just stated all Mk3-derived EMUs.

That are powered by AC Overhead

 

[sk688]

1996ts is my favourite , always sounds out - worldly , but the 2009 stock and S Stock are pretty good

In terms of others : Electrostars (excl .378s)
Class 395
Class 332


I don't like the motors on the LM 350s , because of the alarm noise that they tend to make . Also don't like DC Motor sounds , and most DC Motored trains (442 and 92ts excepted )