Class 150 Power notching

[strange6]

I have only just noticed this today and I haven't heard it in any other class of train, but you can actually hear the driver 'notching' from anywhere within the saloon. You can hear a 'click' coming from within the saloon panels for each notch the driver applies and it's really quite interesting listening to the different styles each driver has of putting on the power.

 

[driver9000]

The relays are behind a hatch at the No.2 (non driving) end of the vehicle. Same for the 156 too.

 

[150001]

Yeah, say, I heard them sometimes!

 

[TDK]

I have only just noticed this today and I haven't heard it in any other class of train, but you can actually hear the driver 'notching' from anywhere within the saloon. You can hear a 'click' coming from within the saloon panels for each notch the driver applies and it's really quite interesting listening to the different styles each driver has of putting on the power.

Both 165's & 168's are the same. You can hear the 168/0 & 1's clearly from the saloon

 

[strange6]

I have noticed that the older guys tend to go straight for Notch 6 from setting off and the younger people go from 2 up to 4 and to 6 when she hits circa 5mph. The younger people probably use a bit less fuel by doing that and are more gentle on the transmission.

 

[Class172]

I wondered what the clicking sound was... now I know!

The effect is best when the windows are closed and there is no-one else onboard bar you, the driver and the guard.

 

[notadriver]

I have noticed that the older guys tend to go straight for Notch 6 from setting off and the younger people go from 2 up to 4 and to 6 when she hits circa 5mph. The younger people probably use a bit less fuel by doing that and are more gentle on the transmission.

There are 7 power notches actually so how would you know if notch 6 was used?

 

[driver9000]

There are 7 power notches actually so how would you know if notch 6 was used?

Each one clicks in turn albeit very quickly when moving the handle direct to a high notch. It is sometimes possible to hear each click.

 

[notadriver]

Each one clicks in turn albeit very quickly when moving the handle direct to a high notch. It is sometimes possible to hear each click.

Yes but if a driver went straight to a high power notch it would be more likely straight to 7, not 6 as the original poster suggests.

 

[driver9000]

That would depend on the driver. Some do, some don't but I can't speak for other Drivers and their driving style - I rarely go straight to a high notch unless starting on a rising gradient and even then I don't take full power straight away.

Why would there be an assumption that taking a high notch means going straight to full power? Maybe Strange6 made a mistake in thinking there were 6 notches instead of 7, maybe he only caught 6 of them clicking, maybe the driver did only take notch 6 and the seventh click wasn't heard over the train noise.

 

[ChrisCooper]

158s have the relays behind the driver. I think 155s and 153s do too.

 

[driver9000]

158s have the relays behind the driver. I think 155s and 153s do too.

14x have the relays behind the Driver too. I'm not sure about 153s - I'm not sure if they are with the HAL9000 computer in the cupboard next to the toilet or if they were left behind the Driver. I don't think I've ever heard them.

 

[strange6]

That would depend on the driver. Some do, some don't but I can't speak for other Drivers and their driving style - I rarely go straight to a high notch unless starting on a rising gradient and even then I don't take full power straight away.

Why would there be an assumption that taking a high notch means going straight to full power? Maybe Strange6 made a mistake in thinking there were 6 notches instead of 7, maybe he only caught 6 of them clicking, maybe the driver did only take notch 6 and the seventh click wasn't heard over the train noise.

Thanks for that D9000. I didn't know the 150's had 7 power notches. I'll rephrase that a bt better and say that the older drivers definitely did go to a high power notch from stationary. The younger drivers were much more progressive in their power delivery and I'm assuming that's how they're trained nowadays.
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14x have the relays behind the Driver too. I'm not sure about 153s - I'm not sure if they are with the HAL9000 computer in the cupboard next to the toilet or if they were left behind the Driver. I don't think I've ever heard them.

153's quite often operate the Clitheroe route so when I'm off the next time, I'll go and investigate!

 

[OuterDistant]

I remember the 156s making a noise like a cross between a "hiss" and a "ping" when the driver stepped the braking up or down - is this a relay, too?

 

[strange6]

I remember the 156s making a noise like a cross between a "hiss" and a "ping" when the driver stepped the braking up or down - is this a relay, too?

I doubt it. The hiss you mention is probably when the driver makes an application which closes off the connection from the main reservoir and opens the brake pipe to atmosphere. The brake pipe pressure is reduced as air escapes. The hiss will be this air escaping and the ping will be a valve opening or closing. I'm sure Driver9000 or the other train drivers would be able to tell you more

 

[driver9000]

There is no brake pipe on second generation DMUs, the brake pipe was replaced by an electrical circuit which must be energised to release the brake.

The "hiss and ping" you can sometimes hear on a 156 is the air being fed into the brake cylinder and is more noticeable when the brake is first applied from release. You can hear a similar sound on 14x units too.

 

[strange6]

There is no brake pipe on second generation DMUs, the brake pipe was replaced by an electrical circuit which must be energised to release the brake.

The "hiss and ping" you can sometimes hear on a 156 is the air being fed into the brake cylinder and is more noticeable when the brake is first applied from release. You can hear a similar sound on 14x units too.

See, I knew I was badly out-of-date with modern traction! Cheers, mate. I have now done some research regarding the electric command brake so I'm a bit more up-to-date with it all!

This is a good link for information regarding the 156;

http://members.madasafish.com/~dysgraphyk/156/index.htm

 

[adamp]

Sit near the gangway on a 158 and you can hear the relays, similar to the 150 you mentioned.

 

[strange6]

Sit near the gangway on a 158 and you can hear the relays, similar to the 150 you mentioned.

Thanks! You have some really good videos on you-tube! Can you let me know when your main site is up and running please?