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What is the high pitched wooshing sound fast intermodal trains make?

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, July 22, 2018 6:51 PM

Depending upon how uniformly a stack train is loaded for box height - boxes that face the air do push a high volume of air.

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Posted by Randy Stahl on Sunday, July 22, 2018 6:48 PM

Semper Vaporo

On freshly re-ground rail, there is a highpitched whine (pitch dependent on speed) from the wheels on just about any train, but most obvious on trains with uniform length cars.

 

 

Bingo!

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Posted by oltmannd on Sunday, July 22, 2018 5:15 PM

Semper Vaporo

On freshly re-ground rail, there is a highpitched whine (pitch dependent on speed) from the wheels on just about any train, but most obvious on trains with uniform length cars.

 

Kinda of a "ying-ying-ying-ying...."

Not what we grew up hearing in the pre-railgrinding years.  I still find it weird.

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Sunday, July 22, 2018 5:05 PM

On freshly re-ground rail, there is a highpitched whine (pitch dependent on speed) from the wheels on just about any train, but most obvious on trains with uniform length cars.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Sunday, July 22, 2018 4:20 PM

Smooth wheels on smotth rail on trucks going by?

- PDN. 

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Sunday, July 22, 2018 11:21 AM

I have never noticed that intermodals make any different sounds than any others.  Are the intermodals "Refrigerated" types?  Could the freezer compressors.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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What is the high pitched wooshing sound fast intermodal trains make?
Posted by Railfanner777 on Saturday, July 21, 2018 6:54 PM

When I see 60-70mph intermodal trains, I hear this high pitched "wooshing" sound when each car passes through. Almost like a whistle. Every car passing makes a "woosh, woosh, woosh, woosh" sound. Is it  air in between cars causing the sound?

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