An EMD's most distinguishable sound?

[emd_SD_60]

The really distinct EMD sound would definately have to be the "whine" that I previously mentioned. Just yesterday I saw SD70 1032 leading 1017, and boy was the whine loud! Also today I heard it again, SD40-2W 5336 with a NS B32-8 and IC GP40R trailing. Yet again the whine was loud, actually drowning out the FDL of the B32 (unless it was offline)! Two different prime movers (1032's 710 vs. 5336's 645) but aren't really different soundwise.

[TheChessieCatLives]

Another distinguishable sound is on the CSX RDMTs when they are going by. The sqeal of the traction motors and the whine of the dynamic brakes are what give them away.



Take CSX #2232, Ex - B&O GP30 #6949 for example.

[thebigc]

Another distinguishable sound is on the CSX RDMTs when they are going by. The sqeal of the traction motors and the whine of the dynamic brakes are what give them away.

Dynamic brakes don't make noise. Their respective cooling fans make the whining noise you refer to.

[Petz]

Right on! I like the whistle, a defining sound of any turbocharged loco.

How come GEs and Alcos, which are turbocharged, don't have the loud whistling sound that EMDs have? I realize we're comparing a 2-cycle engine to 4-cycle engines, but you said it's a defining sound of any turbo loco, and whenever I've seen/heard GEs and Alcos in action, I've never noticed any of the whistling/whining associated with EMDs.

I always assumed it was something about the specific type of turbo used in EMD engines.

This is the Version of a 12-251F built by MLW for the state railways of Greece, here later in the file you can hear the turbocharger accelerating but on a very high frequency.

http://alcoworld.railfan.net/a452amfiklia.mp3

[VRELackie]

well, having spent a lot of time around older GP 38/39's and GP40's on the VRE the 12-645E3's have a very distict "whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssssshhhhh" chug chug chug rumble on notch-up. the turbo catching up and the engine lugging for a second.

also, i know that the 3 cylinder 40* air compressors on our locos have a very distinct almost GE PM type chug chug chug chug to them, never heard the compressors on a GE sound like that.

and its not so much an EMD noise but the KT12 425Kw HEP gensets whirring along at 2300 RPM is also very noticable

[ExEMDLOCOTester]

Does anybody know the cause of this rather unusual dynamic braking sound? SLR GP40 3206 was the last locomotive in this seven-unit consist, and its d/b fan was spinning like there's no tomorrow with a regular fast/slow fluctuation in fan speed. I do know that this unit did not originally have d/b; it was added by EMD for leasing service.

http://trainiax.0catch.com/slrjune0605-805.wav

The link is dead (at least to this computer) but from what you are describing it is most likley a malfunction of the grid current regulator or the extended brake module switching on and off. Either issue needs Fix'ing...

[MEC407]

This is the Version of a 12-251F built by MLW for the state railways of Greece, here later in the file you can hear the turbocharger accelerating but on a very high frequency.

http://alcoworld.railfan.net/a452amfiklia.mp3

Thanks for posting that! I could definitely hear the turbo whistle in that recording. You're right, it's a much higher pitch than an EMD turbo.

[Petz]

Some more greece and Alco export loco sounds you can get on this subsites:

http://alcoworld.railfan.net/summer97.htm

http://alcoworld.railfan.net/sound.htm

[trainiac]

trainiac wrote:

Does anybody know the cause of this rather unusual dynamic braking sound? SLR GP40 3206 was the last locomotive in this seven-unit consist, and its d/b fan was spinning like there's no tomorrow with a regular fast/slow fluctuation in fan speed. I do know that this unit did not originally have d/b; it was added by EMD for leasing service.

http://trainiax.0catch.com/slrjune0605-805.wav

The link is dead (at least to this computer) but from what you are describing it is most likley a malfunction of the grid current regulator or the extended brake module switching on and off. Either issue needs Fix'ing...

I changed servers last December and the recording it now at

http://trainiax.net/recordings/slrjune0605-805.wav

[ExEMDLOCOTester]

trainiac wrote:

Does anybody know the cause of this rather unusual dynamic braking sound? SLR GP40 3206 was the last locomotive in this seven-unit consist, and its d/b fan was spinning like there's no tomorrow with a regular fast/slow fluctuation in fan speed. I do know that this unit did not originally have d/b; it was added by EMD for leasing service.

http://trainiax.0catch.com/slrjune0605-805.wav

The link is dead (at least to this computer) but from what you are describing it is most likley a malfunction of the grid current regulator or the extended brake module switching on and off. Either issue needs Fix'ing...

I changed servers last December and the recording it now at

http://trainiax.net/recordings/slrjune0605-805.wav

Scratch the extended brake module, the sound of the ramp is to slow. The current regulator is correcting some issue that is causing an over current condition. I could speculate but without having the choo choo in my hand I can't say for sure. Sorry...

[ExEMDLOCOTester]

I have always associated the turbo sound as a "Chirp"

[trainiac]

Scratch the extended brake module, the sound of the ramp is to slow. The current regulator is correcting some issue that is causing an over current condition. I could speculate but without having the choo choo in my hand I can't say for sure. Sorry...

I think the unit only makes that sound when in full-dynamics, and not in lower dynamic brake settings. In any case, it's a strange sound that's generated quite a bit of conversation among people I know who've heard it!

This is the unit in question, by the way
http://trainiax.net/photos/slr/2004/pho ... 0-3206.jpg

[conrail_engineer]

In the 70's and 80's, we used to see lots of trains from the Rapid station parking lot in Brook Park, Ohio. (Some shots taken there are on my site.)

One of the most memorable things was the sound of oncoming trains on the main reverberating underneath the highway bridges. Even with that, though, you could always pick out the un-Godly howl of SD-45 or SDP-45 units on the fast, through trains. A sound like no other, and one to inspire awe. If you were lucky, there'd be three or four on one train. Easily distinguishable from any GP/SD 35 or 40 units you also often saw (along with GP-30's) long before you could actually see the units.

Sure wish I'd thought to record that sound.

-Will Davis

I used to catch the Rapid at the same place! At the time, they used to use GP-7s and 9s to switch out Rockport...they'd pull around the bend with their characteristic uneven beat...I'd look at them, in PC black with the hand-stenciled "CR" on them, and I'd think...man, they need to tune those things up!

For some reason that memory sticks with me. But I've always loved the UN-turbocharged EMD throbbing.

[ExEMDLOCOTester]

In the 70's and 80's, we used to see lots of trains from the Rapid station parking lot in Brook Park, Ohio. (Some shots taken there are on my site.)

One of the most memorable things was the sound of oncoming trains on the main reverberating underneath the highway bridges. Even with that, though, you could always pick out the un-Godly howl of SD-45 or SDP-45 units on the fast, through trains. A sound like no other, and one to inspire awe. If you were lucky, there'd be three or four on one train. Easily distinguishable from any GP/SD 35 or 40 units you also often saw (along with GP-30's) long before you could actually see the units.

Sure wish I'd thought to record that sound.

-Will Davis

I used to catch the Rapid at the same place! At the time, they used to use GP-7s and 9s to switch out Rockport...they'd pull around the bend with their characteristic uneven beat...I'd look at them, in PC black with the hand-stenciled "CR" on them, and I'd think...man, they need to tune those things up!

For some reason that memory sticks with me. But I've always loved the UN-turbocharged EMD throbbing.

Yep... The Roots Blowers had a distinct throaty sound.

[ExEMDLOCOTester]

Scratch the extended brake module, the sound of the ramp is to slow. The current regulator is correcting some issue that is causing an over current condition. I could speculate but without having the choo choo in my hand I can't say for sure. Sorry...

I think the unit only makes that sound when in full-dynamics, and not in lower dynamic brake settings. In any case, it's a strange sound that's generated quite a bit of conversation among people I know who've heard it!

This is the unit in question, by the way
http://trainiax.net/photos/slr/2004/pho ... 0-3206.jpg

Is she a 40 or a 40-2?