Old locos are so loud

[mpthomson]

I live next to the ECML near York. You can certainly tell when any of the 'heritage' era diesels is going past!

 

[ac6000cw]

I have to give an honourable mention to the 68s. On a recent trip to Leamington I could hear the loco under power from the 3rd coach back......

Agreed - fully paid-up members of the 'proper diesel' club

 

[Taunton]

The present day Lake Louise railway scene isn't bad either - see my post here:

We were just on the other side of the line where you were filming, by the hotel. There used to be a grade crossing over the line there, now replaced by an underbridge and new road. In fact, the whole road and rail infrastructure in the area has been completely rebuilt on new alignments in the last 40 years, on the rail side to ease out the gradients and provide for what is effectively double track, although used very bi-directionally.

 

[route101]

If im lucky and the wind is blowing in the right direction i can hear 156s on EK branch .

 

[mushroomchow]

Growing up relatively close to the MML, I've had my fair share of memorable experiences sound-wise - refer to my location. I can also echo many others in this thread by noting that I can pick out most trains - even modern units - by the sound they make, even from a large distance! Some are just unmistakable - 20s, 37s and (EMT) HSTs in particular, but I'm also sad enough to be able to A) pick out the difference between, say, a 222 and a 170, and B) identify a fair chunk of those trains by their horn alone.

The MML has become a lot more fun for myself since Leicester depot was reborn - between it and HNRC's operations to the test track, we're regularly treated to anything from 56s, 20s, 37s, 47s, the odd 31 and plenty of 66s (I've even grown to appreciate their "ping") alongside the obvious bonus of having the last good-sounding HSTs on the network. We also seem to keep having 50s and various convoys to Barrow Hill visit the depot for servicing, which is the cherry on top.

The test trains do tend to reverberate - it's a shame the 31s are pretty much finished, they were hellfire. Then again, we have the Central nearby and you can hear that for miles and miles, especially on gala weekends like the one just gone! It really is one of the best places to be a spotter in the country.

 

[RichJF]

I live about 500m from East Grinstead station. They once had a couple of 37's on a test train/track inspection train late in the evening once. They sat there idling until they returned north about 10pm.
Boy you knew they were there and especially when they thrashed out of the station back north!

 

[High Dyke]

...Do you guys ever have a quiet moment and suddenly you hear the melody of a class 37 in the distance, you check it out and there it is on realtimetrains? It was not your imagination.

Or just open the window and watch it thrash past, like 37611 did yesterday just before I finished work. A fitting end to the morning shift.

 

[87electric]

When in a Glasgow hotel a few years back (September 2014) I could hear a thunderous racket coming from Central. I walked down at 6am and saw 68005 & 006 working the first 68 service trains (Golf specials) and promptly jumped on board to Gleneagles for a spin. What an enjoyable racket.

 

[SteveyBee131]

Where I live we have a constant diet of DMUs. Unfortunately there's a busy road between our house and the railway, but if the wind's blowing the right way at night we sometimes hear 185s coming in on the last trains of the night. In the autumn it was ace to hear the 20s on RHTT's thrice a week (and sometimes have a bad attempt at filming! ) Occasionally a 37 or 47 comes our way on a test train or charter and we can hear them coming, even with the busy road!

 

[greyman42]

I lived about one and a half miles from the ECML and on a night the Deltics were very distinctive.

 

[InOban]

If you like 37s, the NR train has been in Oban all day, top and tailed with 37s. Don't know when its leaving, but should make a decent house as it climbs away....

 

[70014IronDuke]

Our house is situated only around 20mtrs from the one remaining running line of the Stockport to Guide Bridge line. Last week in the height of the storm that ripped through here with sleep destroying roaring winds that later went on to cause so much damage in The Netherlands and Germany etc, were briefly completely drowned out by the somewhat louder roar of a class 37s EE 12CSVT engine powering an early hours NR test train. Having said that I can remember when Class 40s & 50s were regular past here, and they definitely put the 37s in the shade, especially double headed 50s on Anglo Scottish weekend diversions during the early seventies, now they did make a serious racket!

I can't remember if I've ever been in the engine room of a 40 or 50 when running, but I have been in quite a few in a 45 (on the Midland) and 47 (on the Western) and I can tell you, bowling along at any speed over about 50 with the driver pushing the needle in the ammeter was quite an experience - and you took your ear mufflers off at your peril (but I used to do that on occasion, for a few seconds). Leaving St Pancras with a 45 on the front, the sounds reverberating from the retaining walls into Belsize Tunnel was damned exciting, whether on the locomotive or in the first carriage - even IIDs with air con and no open windows.

 

[Tracked]

a short walk from the Leeds branch of the ECML, but on a clear night I can hear the ECML towards York in the distance - it's mostly fields between the two from where I live - so these days it's mainly 91's roaring, the odd freight train, and Adwick-Sheffield services I can hear.

 

[broadgage]

I used to live near a busy railway line in London, mainly networkers and class 66 hauled freights, I soon got used to these. Anything less common used to wake me up simply by being different rather than loud. Pairs of class 20s on nuclear flask trains and steam hauled charters for example.

Now I live a couple of miles from the West Somerset railway and can sometimes hear the trains, especial during the diesel galas.

 

[faltskog36abba]

I used to stay over at my grandparents in the 1970s on a weekend. They lived in Collyhurst right next to miles platting bank, When I was in bed I heard all sorts of engines thundering up the incline and its stayed with me today-that's why I'm on here. More recently when I'm in work in Prestwich -north Manchester-you can hear freight on the Bolton line as they go through Agecroft - some two miles away.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I can't remember if I've ever been in the engine room of a 40 or 50 when running, but I have been in quite a few in a 45 (on the Midland) and 47 (on the Western) and I can tell you, bowling along at any speed over about 50 with the driver pushing the needle in the ammeter was quite an experience - and you took your ear mufflers off at your peril (but I used to do that on occasion, for a few seconds). Leaving St Pancras with a 45 on the front, the sounds reverberating from the retaining walls into Belsize Tunnel was damned exciting, whether on the locomotive or in the first carriage - even IIDs with air con and no open windows.

All I can say is you are a lot braver than I then IronDuke! You're mentioning of 45s prompts me to ask a question, do you recall that the class 45/46s made a greater racket than the 47s? my memory is that they did by a considerable margin but I know of others who would disagree on this.

 

[70014IronDuke]

All I can say is you are a lot braver than I then IronDuke! You're mentioning of 45s prompts me to ask a question, do you recall that the class 45/46s made a greater racket than the 47s? my memory is that they did by a considerable margin but I know of others who would disagree on this.

I used to think the 45s made a bigger racket than 47s, but I suspect that was influenced by my runs out of St Pancras (and Leicester, heading south out of the station). But I couldn't say that was scientific: I never measured it. They were probably much of a muchness.

The thing about being in the engine room at speed was not just the noise, it was the swaying of the loco, the heat and the continual chatter of the fuel pumps. I also didn't hang around near the turbochargers. They had guards on, and statistically, they only blew up once every 100 zillion hours - but the thought of getting a bit of yellow-hot hot steel through your body if they DID kind of made you shy away from them. Well, it did me

I think I was only ever in the cab of a 40 when working once, on a train of hoppers at Peak Forest. But I don't think I went into the engine room. We were trying to find out if we could add one more waggon to some hopper train, and Crewe reckoned the one extra was a make or break for some freight contract. It was also just above the theoretical load limit for the route, and that was the problem. (In the end, after consultation with the loco inspector and driver, I recommended we passed it. I suppose we got the contract, at least, I hope so.) I was also on 50s on test trains for WCML electrification - but I can't remember going into the engine room then either.

 

[KevinTurvey]

I too think the 45's were quite a bit louder than 47s when at idling & low engine speeds at stations, however on full power the 47s seemed louder (my opinion only and without prejudice!)
On the long embankment out of Liverpool, Wavertree to just shy of Mossley Hill, I recall the sound of the 25's 85's 86's seemed to carry most followed by the 31's. 40''s used to make a decent throb but surprisingly the 56's were entirely dependent on the wind direction and sometimes could not be heard at all!

 

[Ash Bridge]

I used to think the 45s made a bigger racket than 47s, but I suspect that was influenced by my runs out of St Pancras (and Leicester, heading south out of the station). But I couldn't say that was scientific: I never measured it. They were probably much of a muchness.

The thing about being in the engine room at speed was not just the noise, it was the swaying of the loco, the heat and the continual chatter of the fuel pumps. I also didn't hang around near the turbochargers. They had guards on, and statistically, they only blew up once every 100 zillion hours - but the thought of getting a bit of yellow-hot hot steel through your body if they DID kind of made you shy away from them. Well, it did me

I think I was only ever in the cab of a 40 when working once, on a train of hoppers at Peak Forest. But I don't think I went into the engine room. We were trying to find out if we could add one more waggon to some hopper train, and Crewe reckoned the one extra was a make or break for some freight contract. It was also just above the theoretical load limit for the route, and that was the problem. (In the end, after consultation with the loco inspector and driver, I recommended we passed it. I suppose we got the contract, at least, I hope so.) I was also on 50s on test trains for WCML electrification - but I can't remember going into the engine room then either.

Thanks for getting back with this, exactly the sort of things I enjoy learning about. It's difficult to imagine what it feels like to travel on board a large diesel locomotive at speed, obviously a very different experience to being onboard a unit or in hauled stock without a doubt.

 

[SteveyBee131]

a short walk from the Leeds branch of the ECML, but on a clear night I can hear the ECML towards York in the distance - it's mostly fields between the two from where I live - so these days it's mainly 91's roaring, the odd freight train, and Adwick-Sheffield services I can hear.

Sounds like you're not so far from where I used to live. I have fond memories of hearing 91s and HSTs in the distance, sometimes from both lines at once!

 

[70014IronDuke]

Thanks for getting back with this, exactly the sort of things I enjoy learning about. It's difficult to imagine what it feels like to travel on board a large diesel locomotive at speed, obviously a very different experience to being onboard a unit or in hauled stock without a doubt.

You're welcome! You've got me thinking about it all now. It was 45 years ago (or so), difficult to remember it all exactly. It's only just struck me that, for a variety of reasons, I only ever seemed to arrive in Paddington on the loco - I never remember leaving the station, and I don't think I ever did! And even then, the retaining walls were further apart, so the sound levels would not have been the same from an accelerating train as out of St Pancras, through Kentish Town and the tunnels. I do remember the 47s climbing over the top out of Swansea, after crossing the viaduct over the Tawe, the driver would open up to tackle the bank - that was quite an effort. But it was just the hillside on one side that put the sound back - not the same as retaining walls.
It was also wonderful inside the engine room when, after being on full load, the driver would ease off, and everything would shut down to idling, in unison - well, of course it did, it was all interlnked - but it felt like an orchestra just following the conductor. Then back on full power - wow, you felt special in there all alone with all the racket, the pulsating power of the engine itself, the whine of the turbocharger and also the smell of oil in the hot air. And the passengers behind, not really far away at all, who knew nothing of this.
I never went out of Kings Cross or Liverpool Street on the fooplate. I dare say they were pretty exhilarating runs too.

 

[StephenHunter]

I lived about one and a half miles from the ECML and on a night the Deltics were very distinctive.

While lovely for the spotter, having a Deltic at full whack behind you for four hours isn't great for one's hearing in the long term. They had problems with drivers going deaf until they fitted soundproofing.

 

[Master29]

I always remembered listening to 37`s on the Liverpool St - Cambridge and Kings Lynn when in bed at night from a few miles away. A very distinctive growl usually in the small hours.

 

[ac6000cw]

I think the 45's were a bit noisier than 47's (particularly when idling - the fans were definitely noisier on a 45), but there wasn't that much in it. Mind you, the image of a class 45 departure from New Street station in the early 1970's is burned into my brain - just after the train of Mk1's got moving, the loco was put straight into full power - cue tremendous roaring noise and column of exhaust 30 ft into the air as it took off like a scalded cat...

On another continent (not my video but one of my favourites), you could say this is how to 'get out of town' with a freight, 1996 style:

 

[Jeffrey Korn]

It's better to have locomotives that have different sounds that are loud and recogniseable, than so called locomotives than all look the same and sound like washing machines and have no personality

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

Worth remembering that all the Peaks have various grilles/cutouts in the bodysides meaning there is some scope for engine room noise to escape laterally. All the openings on a 47 are above the cantrail meaning a little less noise when heard from a platform, trackside or trailing vehicle.

It's better to have locomotives that have different sounds that are loud and recogniseable, than so called locomotives than all look the same and sound like washing machines and have no personality

Better for railfans, sure. But for the operators possibly not. And anyone living close to the lineside would probably prefer no "characteristic" sounds at all!

 

[Ash Bridge]

You're welcome! You've got me thinking about it all now. It was 45 years ago (or so), difficult to remember it all exactly. It's only just struck me that, for a variety of reasons, I only ever seemed to arrive in Paddington on the loco - I never remember leaving the station, and I don't think I ever did! And even then, the retaining walls were further apart, so the sound levels would not have been the same from an accelerating train as out of St Pancras, through Kentish Town and the tunnels. I do remember the 47s climbing over the top out of Swansea, after crossing the viaduct over the Tawe, the driver would open up to tackle the bank - that was quite an effort. But it was just the hillside on one side that put the sound back - not the same as retaining walls.
It was also wonderful inside the engine room when, after being on full load, the driver would ease off, and everything would shut down to idling, in unison - well, of course it did, it was all interlnked - but it felt like an orchestra just following the conductor. Then back on full power - wow, you felt special in there all alone with all the racket, the pulsating power of the engine itself, the whine of the turbocharger and also the smell of oil in the hot air. And the passengers behind, not really far away at all, who knew nothing of this.
I never went out of Kings Cross or Liverpool Street on the fooplate. I dare say they were pretty exhilarating runs too.

It really does sound like an awesome experience in the engine room with the orchestra (lovely way to describe it) in full chat but I'd still rather take your word for it thanks Just a thought again about why the 45s and 47s (although essentially the same sound) varied in sound output. Could the fact that the Peaks had those huge louvred shutters along much of the bodyside have made them appear more vocal when standing alongside on a station platform or indeed when under power passing through a cutting, the 47 on the other hand had solid bodyside with all the vents & shutters located along the curved area of the roof therefore perhaps directing the cacophony in a more upward direction?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Having spent ten days back in July 1980 at the Scout camp site at Blackwell Court I can assure everyone that the 45s made far more noise than the 47s when topping the Lickey Incline.

 

[Cowley]

You're welcome! You've got me thinking about it all now. It was 45 years ago (or so), difficult to remember it all exactly. It's only just struck me that, for a variety of reasons, I only ever seemed to arrive in Paddington on the loco - I never remember leaving the station, and I don't think I ever did! And even then, the retaining walls were further apart, so the sound levels would not have been the same from an accelerating train as out of St Pancras, through Kentish Town and the tunnels. I do remember the 47s climbing over the top out of Swansea, after crossing the viaduct over the Tawe, the driver would open up to tackle the bank - that was quite an effort. But it was just the hillside on one side that put the sound back - not the same as retaining walls.
It was also wonderful inside the engine room when, after being on full load, the driver would ease off, and everything would shut down to idling, in unison - well, of course it did, it was all interlnked - but it felt like an orchestra just following the conductor. Then back on full power - wow, you felt special in there all alone with all the racket, the pulsating power of the engine itself, the whine of the turbocharger and also the smell of oil in the hot air. And the passengers behind, not really far away at all, who knew nothing of this.
I never went out of Kings Cross or Liverpool Street on the fooplate. I dare say they were pretty exhilarating runs too.

Wonderful stuff Iron Duke .

 

[Cowley]

Re The Peaks: There’s a thread on another forum that’s thrown up some interesting details.
It seems that 45/0s, 45/1s and 46s all had different variations of silencer between the classes but certain 45/1s had quieter ones fitted during overhauls in the early 80s. Some of the 45/1s though retained much louder 45/0 type silencers, and being pretty much straight through piped these locos were considerably louder than the so called ‘snipped’ 45/1s. That’s apparently the term for it...
Of the preserved ones 45108 is reckoned to be one of the loudest and 45149 is very much a snipped quiet one with a properly functioning silencer.
46s were/are loud having a slightly different system again to the 45s.
The way the fuel system is set up can also effect the decibel levels.
With the 47s you could get quiet ones and loud ones. 47306 down at Bodmin seems pretty quiet to me and does that slightly greyish exhaust thing that the quieter ones seem to display at times. I’d always assumed that this was due to the way the fuel racks etc were set up but I’m not sure.
47580 is a noisy one and to my ear sounds exactly right and with a proper exhaust colour too.