Favourite electric train motor sound.

[AlexNL]

I quite like the sound that the Dutch Railways VIRM multiple units make when they arrive at and when they depart from a station.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

I think I prefer the Brush traction noise to the GEC noise on the Networkers. But my favourite has to be the Jubilee Line noise. Sounds like all hell is breaking lose.

 

[Bornin1980s]

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

You can. They notable their unusual electro-hydraulic gearing, and the world's most powerful DC motors!

 

[ash39]

You can. They notable their unusual electro-hydraulic gearing, and the world's most powerful DC motors!

Yes, but I don't think you can hear them over the blower motors?

 

[TimboM]

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

Yes, but I don't think you can hear them over the blower motors?

I think that's a key distinction for this thread - there's been another thread/vote about favourite electric loco sound, however the distinctive roar/whoosh/"Dyson" sounds I think most of us associate with those locos (e.g. 91s/92s and the older 81-87s) are the fans/blowers; not really the motors as such. Except for the new 88s, you can hardly hear the actual motors usually over the fans!

 

[ash39]

I think the Class 90 is another exception. Pretty much silent upon pulling away (which I always found unusual/impressive/dissapointing for a 5000hp loco) but if you listen to one accelerating at speed it sounds like a beefed up mk3 based EMU!

 

[D365]

I think the Class 90 is another exception. Pretty much silent upon pulling away (which I always found unusual/impressive/dissapointing for a 5000hp loco) but if you listen to one accelerating at speed it sounds like a beefed up mk3 based EMU!

Ironically enough I copped one on the back of a Mk4 rake at Doncaster this week, but didn't realise it until too late - any sound was beeing drowned out by the Class 91 on the adjacent platform!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

317s motors are amazing. I quite like the Juniper sound too.

319/321 boring - don't see what the fuss is about, 319s sound pretty scary

Taurus EXCELLENT, 373s EXCELLENT, 374s ALMOST AS GOOD, very powerful sounding.

But my all time favourite traction sound is actually a tram. You know the T-68s and T-68As of Manchester that they got rid of? T-69s good but the sound made by T-69As were amazing!!!!! The old T-69s of Midland Metro sounded good as well.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zjI6gCHAJsE

 

[colchesterken]

321 being thrashed to get up to 100mph on the GEML I often wander if it is all going to fall to bits, of course it never does as BR knew how to build trains

I also liked the clicking sound the A60 did on the met as they got going I assume it was a kind of notching up

 

[pompeyfan]

Surprised it's not been said, surely a 400 series slammer has to get a mention, the grone as it pulled away, as well as the compressor as well. In fact the videos that the 'Gordon petit' rebuild society keep uploading bring back nostalgic memories.

Aren't SWT's Desiros different from other desiros in that they had an early days software update to make the UFO type noise until 20mph?

 

[randyrippley]

you can't beat the first cars of the Manx Electric Railway
the oldest, and the best

https://manxelectricrailway.co.uk/motors/car-no-1/

 

[Kneedown]

My favourite would have to be the class 76.

Unfortunately I missed out on seeing any 76's running. Did they have a distinctive sound? The only YouTube footage I can find has typical 70's/80's sound quality.

 

[Silverlink]

317s motors are amazing. I quite like the Juniper sound too.

319/321 boring - don't see what the fuss is about, 319s sound pretty scary

Taurus EXCELLENT, 373s EXCELLENT, 374s ALMOST AS GOOD, very powerful sounding.

But my all time favourite traction sound is actually a tram. You know the T-68s and T-68As of Manchester that they got rid of? T-69s good but the sound made by T-69As were amazing!!!!! The old T-69s of Midland Metro sounded good as well.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zjI6gCHAJsE

Class 317 motors are literally the same as 321

 

[swt_passenger]

Aren't SWT's Desiros different from other desiros in that they had an early days software update to make the UFO type noise until 20mph?

The discrete frequencies chosen for use by the Desiro UK traction converter in DC land are different to those in AC land. It's because the harmonic frequencies allowed (including those outside audible range) are limited because of stuff like interference with other lineside equipment such as track circuits, which are also different in AC and DC land.

It is different by design, not random.

 

[43096]

Class 317 motors are literally the same as 321

Except a 317 has GEC motors and a Dusty Bin has Brush. So literally not the same.

 

[pompeyfan]

The discrete frequencies chosen for use by the Desiro UK traction converter in DC land are different to those in AC land. It's because the harmonic frequencies allowed (including those outside audible range) are limited because of stuff like interference with other lineside equipment such as track circuits, which are also different in AC and DC land.

It is different by design, not random.

I was aware it was by design but it was quite a late change if I recall correctly. They'd certainly been in service a while. The 323s and networkers are distinctive for the same reason I believe. Did the 350s make the same UFO noise on DC up to 20mph?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I was aware it was by design but it was quite a late change if I recall correctly. They'd certainly been in service a while. The 323s and networkers are distinctive for the same reason I believe. Did the 350s make the same UFO noise on DC up to 20mph?

350s make the UFO noise the same on AC and DC. I don't recall any noticeable difference (other than maybe a bit of transformer buzz on AC).

 

[swt_passenger]

I was aware it was by design but it was quite a late change if I recall correctly. They'd certainly been in service a while. The 323s and networkers are distinctive for the same reason I believe. Did the 350s make the same UFO noise on DC up to 20mph?

I only had one return trip on a "WLL 350" from Clapham Jn to East Croydon and return, so although I wasn't listening specifically for it, the unit didn't sound significantly different to my normal 450s.

 

[DarloRich]

You can. They notable their unusual electro-hydraulic gearing, and the world's most powerful DC motors!

that i did not know!

 

[Mag_seven]

350s make the UFO noise the same on AC and DC. I don't recall any noticeable difference (other than maybe a bit of transformer buzz on AC).

Since nobody's actually heard a UFO up close, how could you know what they sound like?

 

[swt_passenger]

Since nobody's actually heard a UFO up close, how could you know what they sound like?

That's one of life's great mysterons...

 

[43096]

Since nobody's actually heard a UFO up close, how could you know what they sound like?

Somewhere out there, there's a conversation being had...
Alien1: "Our new UFOs sound like a Desiro."
Alien2: "Since nobody's actually heard a Desiro, how could you know what they sound like?"

 

[59CosG95]

I quite like the sound that the Dutch Railways VIRM multiple units make when they arrive at and when they depart from a station.

They do sound very similar to our own Class 323s, but that's more than likely due to the fact that both have Holec motors & converters, s have very similar ancestry.

 

[LiftFan]

The grunt of the 319 always took the top spot for me. I do also love the whine that the D stock did when stationary!

 

[cjmillsnun]

There is no sound to match that of an EE546 at full tilt in the MBLS of a 442. Sadly I'll never hear it again

 

[randyrippley]

There is no sound to match that of an EE546 at full tilt in the MBLS of a 442. Sadly I'll never hear it again

they sounded better under a 4-REP

 

[Strathclyder]

All AC-powered Mk.3-derived EMUs, 317s/318s & 319s/325s in particular.
That low-pitched droning of the traction motors gradually increasing in pitch as the unit gathers speed until it honestly sounds like they are screaming in protest is honestly one of 'the' quintessential sounds of the railway for me. Sends chills up the spine every time...

 

[cjmillsnun]

they sounded better under a 4-REP

I bet they did, sadly I never used the SWML during their time.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

There is no sound to match that of an EE546 at full tilt in the MBLS of a 442. Sadly I'll never hear it again

they sounded better under a 4-REP

I bet they did, sadly I never used the SWML during their time.

[youtube]mWbw3eD4R-0[/youtube]

From that video you can hear the sound of a 442 accelerating. Would the REPs have been used with unpowered TCs? If they had then it's possible that I would have been on a train that had one in the consist but would have always been on the TC

 

[swt_passenger]

Would the REPs have been used with unpowered TCs? If they had then it's possible that I would have been on a train that had one in the consist but would have always been on the TC

The whole point of the 4.REP was to be able to push an 8.TC to Bournemouth, or pull it back to Waterloo - it was a 12 car capability traction package built into only 2 cars of a 4 car unit. From the buffers at Waterloo you'd have cars 1 and 4 motored, and 2,3,5-12 trailers.

Anyone in the right part of the train for a station beyond Bournemouth would have been in an unpowered part of the train, one of the TC vehicles.