NR 158s.

[hougtimo]

Ok, so I've been travelling with NR recently quite a lot - all of my journeys bar one have been on 158s - the other one was a 14something.

They seem to have a lot of units that have both english and welsh signage inside the train. Then their other ones just have 'icons' on the signs inside without any writing. I'm talking, typically, about signage for doors, toilets, emergency exits, bins etc...

Now, it seems to me that they have inherited some welsh units. It does seem though that the units with welsh signage run a LOT rougher and are a lot noisier than the other units. Do they run the same engines? Or is it down to one lot being overhauled and the other lot hasn't yet?

 

[mallard]

Well, there are 3 different engine configurations in use on 158s; Cummins 350hp, Perkins 350hp and Cummins 400hp.

I'm not sure if Northern have any of the 400hp units, I think EMT and SWT have them all, but there could be a difference in sound between the Cummins and Perkins 350hp engines that you're hearing.

 

[hougtimo]

Well the ones with welsh signage sound very much like a diesel should, with the vibration to match. One car will often take power before the other one too. The other units have very little vibration and you can't hear the 'diesely' noise from inside them, its more of a quiet whine that changes in pitch with the rpm.

 

[starrymarkb]

Sounds like some of the 400hp batch in that case. Look at the number - if it is 860 - 872 (IIRC) that is the 400hp batch (same engine as the 159/0)

Perkins have Turbo whistle IIRC

 

[hougtimo]

Sounds like some of the 400hp batch in that case. Look at the number - if it is 860 - 872 (IIRC) that is the 400hp batch (same engine as the 159/0)

Perkins have Turbo whistle IIRC

Which ones sound like the 400hp units?

The quieter one I was on today was definitely 158909 - unsure about the welsh one.

 

[eastmidschris]

Northern only have 1x400bhp Cummins Unit. 158872 the rest are with EMT (158863-866) and ScotRail (158867-871).