TRIVIA: Loudest stations for Flange Squeal

[jdp30]

Can anything be done about St Pancras Low Level then? It really is dreadful, I always feel sorry for the staff who have to listen to it all day. Doesn't happen at Farringdon AFAIK, is STP Low level just too tight of a curve? Can't see that being fixed anytime soon if so.

 

[Peter0124]

The 700s in St Pancras are much louder than I thought they would be when I first visited. As I did know these trains have better bogies than the 319s they replaced but I don't think it matters.

The peak dB levels there by the curve would likely be mid to high 90s if not 100+ as a result of both the flange squealing and wheel howling.

I reckon every train that could theoretically run through there would make a racket even the rather silent Caledonian Sleeper mark 5s?

 

[JD2168]

Sheffield platform 1 can be quite loud, particularly when the Pacers we’re in service.

 

[DanNCL]

Newcastle platforms 2 and 3.

 

[Purple Train]

I dread to imagine what a (theoretical) combination of Dinting platform 2 and a Pacer could achieve... 10mph through there is it not?

 

[sga962]

Having worked at pancras for the last 6+ years the low level platforms can be terrible at times

 

[gabrielhj07]

Vauxhall platform 8 is certainly a contender. Involving a 455 makes it considerably worse.

 

[Dr_Paul]

The track at platforms 16 and 17 at Clapham Junction take some beating, with their series of reverse curves. One evening many years back, when the platforms weren't used for passenger services and weren't illuminated, I was waiting on platform 11 when a long freight went through slowly at platform 16, long-wheelbase four-wheelers I guess, and from the darkness emanated a deafening barrage of screeches and howls, punctuated now and then by rhythmic thumps when a wagon had a flat. People were holding their ears, baffled at what was causing this impromptu concert of musique concrète.

 

[Bevan Price]

Earlestown Platform 3 was awful with Pacers. Platforms 4 & 5 would probably have been just as bad, but Pacers id not use them regularly.

 

[AM9]

The 700s in St Pancras are much louder than I thought they would be when I first visited. As I did know these trains have better bogies than the 319s they replaced but I don't think it matters.

The peak dB levels there by the curve would likely be mid to high 90s if not 100+ as a result of both the flange squealing and wheel howling.

I reckon every train that could theoretically run through there would make a racket even the rather silent Caledonian Sleeper mark 5s?

The class 700s have Siemens SF7000 bogies that have shorter wheelbases than the B10 bogies on their 319 predecessors (or the 377/387s deployed to support the 319s). These were designed to be kinder to track, but on plain curves, as tight as some of those in the TL core, some wheel howl and flange squeal is inevitable.
It may also be slightly louder in an enclosed space such as STP low level because the SF700 bogies have inside bearings meaning that there is no shielding of sideframes to restrict the noise radiating up to platform level. Another location for both howl and squeal is the high level platforms of Portsmouth & Southsea. The reverse curves through the covered part of the platforms ISTR create quite a lot of wheel noise.

 

[Pinus contorta]

One of the cumbrian coast line sections right by the sea. I can't remember if it was near Parton or Bransty. But it was awful on a pacer.

 

[themiller]

One of the cumbrian coast line sections right by the sea. I can't remember if it was near Parton or Bransty. But it was awful on a pacer.

Harrington!

 

[Pinus contorta]

Yea

Harrington!

that's it!!

 

[150249]

Pacers would often squeal a lot between Dawlish Warren and Dawlish.

 

[Peter0124]

Can also add Dalmarnock to this list, another semi-underground station in Glasgow that can hit mid to high 90s dB wise with flange squeal on the bend.

 

[LUYMun]

London Underground's Jubilee line seems to have gotten worse noise-wise in recent times, particularly in between stations between Canada Water and Canning Town.

 

[Deepgreen]

Bank Central line.

 

[AlastairFraser]

A lot of the Thames Valley branches have some quite bad squealing, especially Maidenhead to Marlow.

 

[AM9]

London Underground's Jubilee line seems to have gotten worse noise-wise in recent times, particularly in between stations between Canada Water and Canning Town.

The line between Canada Water and Canning Town is virtually straight and I've never heard flange squeal there. A linespeed over that section being at least 40mph would indicate that there aren't any curves sharp enouigh to cause flange contact.

 

[Taunton]

London Underground's Jubilee line seems to have gotten worse noise-wise in recent times, particularly in between stations between Canada Water and Canning Town.

Indeed it has, but that seems to be rail roar as opposed to flange squeal. It's no longer possible to talk with one another on that section. Must be some feature of the track construction, because as soon as you come out of the tunnel onto ballasted track it disappears.

Back to flange squeal, and considerably the worst has long been the viaduct west of London Bridge, overhead Borough Market itself. The noise penetrates right through the neighbourhood, and must be a constant annoyance to Southwark Cathedral, adjacent to the line.

 

[reb0118]

Burntisland.

 

[Recessio]

Vauxhall platform 8 is certainly a contender. Involving a 455 makes it considerably worse.

This was going to be my vote too. The fast lines don't seem as bad (though a 158 gunning through can be pretty loud with diesel noise too), but good lord some of the slow lines have such loud flange squeal...

 

[Peter0124]

Again Ive recorded 103.8dB (unsure if app calibrated or not) of flange squeal when a double 334 sped past Glasgow Central Low Level. They seem to be louder than the usual 318 and 320 here.


Another station that can be loud is the Paddington side of Heathrow Central, probably due to the echo from the tunnels.

 

[lyndhurst25]

Carnforth on a pacer used to be very bad because of the tight curve.

I once saw a small boy in a pushchair on the platform put his hands over his ears and start crying at the sound of a Pacer entering Carnforth station!

 

[Western 52]

The tight curve between Cardiff Central and Queen Street can be bad. Worse when pacers were running of course.

 

[DerekC]

Not sure if this is within scope, but the loudest and longest flange squeal I ever heard was on the ex-Pennsylvania Railroad tracks just west of Pittsburgh Station. The main line towards Ohio takes a tight ninety degree turn northward, crosses the Alleghenny River on a steel bridge and then takes an equally tight turn westward again. A long, heavy freight can easily be on both curves at once and has to heard to be believed. I stayed for six months in an apartment close to the bridge and inside the second curve. You do get used to it after a while!

 

[Peter0124]

-Delete Post-

 

[Liverpool 507]

Liverpool Central Platforms 1 & 2 (Northern line) and Manchester Piccadilly Platforms 13 & 14

 

[PTR 444]

Poole is pretty bad, particularly on the down line.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Newcastle platforms 2 and 3.

Between the two Id say 2 was worse as you often get through trains such as freight passing through whereas 3 is often occupied by a terminator that rolls in slower. 2 also has the reverse curve at the castle keep end which adds to the steel assault on the eardrums