My favorite sounding prime mover?
Got to be the two-cylinder double-acting prime mover found under a high-pressure boiler. No internal combustion engine ever built has ever had the volume and authority (although an R-4360 at takeoff power comes close.) And then there are the twin-engined variety - like the N&W A!
If you have to ask why, you'll never understand.
Chuck
I like the sounds of diesels in general compared to gasoline engines. All diesels sound good when they are working hard. I was once invited in to tour a power plant in Kissimmee, Florida. They had several big diesels in there all working hard as it was a cold snap in the area. There was one big room about the size of a gymnasium with about six Fairbanks-Morse opposed piston diesels thundering away.
Diesels also sound nice when starting. Starting them in cold weather can be an unbelievable ordeal. Here is a locomotive being started in England. I am not sure what type of engine it is, but it sure sounds nice. It takes awhile to start, so bear with it until 1:29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG91fYHcm-k&feature=related
The engine is an English Electric 16svt. One thing the EE engines had over the Alco 251 was the turbo charger arangement. With a number of smaller turbos closer to exhaust port you could reduce turbo lag which is one of the reasons why Alco's and to a lesser extent older GE FDL smoke up if they are powered up quickly.
My favorite is the 567C engine. I drove the SP GP9 at Portola this last summer and listening to that classic sound was really something.
My vote is for the Alco 251 and the 244 engines...great sounding..almost like listening to music...listening to those I used to end up tapping my foot to the beat!
What is a turbo clutch and how does it work?
Rick
aut1rmlWhat is a turbo clutch and how does it work? Rick
The expanation of the turbo clutch was fantastic
I loved the sound of SP's tunnel motors with their deep booming sound they made while idling, and winding up as the locomotive accelerated. Granted, that deep soul satisfying sound may have been related to the 20 cylinder sound from SP's SD45T-2s than the lookalike SD40T-2s. Outside of trying to remember which model occupied which block of numbers, I could never tell the difference between the two.
Cris_261 I loved the sound of SP's tunnel motors with their deep booming sound they made while idling, and winding up as the locomotive accelerated. Granted, that deep soul satisfying sound may have been related to the 20 cylinder sound from SP's SD45T-2s than the lookalike SD40T-2s. Outside of trying to remember which model occupied which block of numbers, I could never tell the difference between the two.
There are two ways in which you can tell a 40T-2 from a 45T-2 with a quick visual search. The 40T-2 will have the same cab placement as an SD40-2, along with that trademark 'porch' on the front (although on the tunnel motor the long hood length makes the rear porch normal). On the SD45T-2, the cab is further forward as on a GP series unit. Also, look over the radiator grilles on the long hood. The SD40T-2 has two fan 'doors' above the grille, while the 45T-2 has three. At least in SP paint, each of these doors had a white painted square on it.
UPs C60s. The EMD strokers are very plesent to listen to, but the big GEs pulling a 100-car rock train up a slope sound like Satan's Harley. They are just really strong motors and sound the part. In addition they don't have too much of that ka-chuff ka-chuff sound of most GEs.
I can be a fan of EMDs (though I tend to prefer the growl from the roots blown engines as opposed to the whine of the turboed units), but after riding behind one of the GE Shovelnose diesels on the White Pass and Yukon this past summer, I realized that I was completely smitten with the charm of the ALCo 6-251A that was the prime mover in the loco on my train.
Listening to the ALCo burble at idle and come to life with a chug was an experience I won't forget!
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
Well, I believe the neatest sounding powerplant is the 567 of any type. It has such a raw sound, nothing but shuffling of cylinders and the crank spinning. A non turbo'd 645 that you'd have in a GP38(-2,etc) is also a neat sound. But, since Im a WC fan, I think the best overall sound, musically and for muscle, is no doubt, without a question, the 20-645E's. While I can't hear the difference between the 20's and the 16's in my head right now, I have fond memories of listening to the SD45's my whole life. Definately a sound that is sorely missed.
I do have to say though, the new 8-710 ECO units sounds awfully neat.
Alec
My favorite is easily the 710s in the SD9043MACs. They sound like jet engines and give the locomotive a high tech powerful sound. Almost as if it's about to sprout rockets and blast forward at mach 2
Coming close in second place is a turbocharged 645. I love the whine sound they make. Especially when they rev up to run 8 and start "throbbing". The sound is more pronounced when they're also under load and it just sounds awesome.
Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.
I like them all, though I never could see why the Alco is supposedly more wonderful than anything else.
My favorite has not a single example in North America - the Pielstick 16 PA4 V185. It's a high-speed (1500 rpm), twin-turboed 4 stroke rated at 2400 hp. It is rather loud and has a wonderful snarl. When you hear a goods train with a DE24000 pulling and another pushing, coming out of a siding up a 3% grade in a mountain canyon at dawn, that's railroading!
RWM
For switching,the ALCo 539 turbo.The ALCO burble plus the turbo whistle was something to behold.For Mainline,the 20 cylinder EMD 645.Especially when starting or runing up a steep grade,the ground would shake with the smooth roar and the sound would give one a real thrill.
Tugboat Tony For me, far and away the best sounding, running and most reliable has to me the 16V645E3, of SD40-2 fame. With a tight turbo clutch these just sing smoothly along. Very very enjoyable to just listen to them idle. They also sound great when you start them up on a cold morning. FDL/HDL and the C45ac 12 cyl's (and alco's for that matter) just sound like they are going to rattle themselves apart.
For me, far and away the best sounding, running and most reliable has to me the 16V645E3, of SD40-2 fame. With a tight turbo clutch these just sing smoothly along. Very very enjoyable to just listen to them idle. They also sound great when you start them up on a cold morning. FDL/HDL and the C45ac 12 cyl's (and alco's for that matter) just sound like they are going to rattle themselves apart.
I agree 100%! Having been to the famous Tehachapi Loop during the 1990's several times you appreciate the sound of the 16V645E3 with its distinct, powerful rumble especially on a heavily loaded train going uphill (best example was the famous "Oil Can" trains heading south from just north of Bakersfield). The FDL16's on the Santa Fe C40-8W's and C41-8W's had a very distinct "chugging" sound at certain revs, which made them not so pleasant to listen to.
I dont really have a "favorite". For me it just depends on if ther idleing or under power. I think the 710 sounds awsome during start up and idle due to the deep rumble and base that it produce it just sounds "powerful". Now for a high RPM I really like a FDL in notch 8 and pulling hard because it burbles and chugs much like an alco it just sounds great. And for a mid RPM i like the 645 it has the whining turbo sound and it runs and sounds smooth and has a nice rumble to it i think its a prime example of low tech higly enginered american power.
Yes I really like the -9 but the "chug" of a SD70M is a nice tune too.
The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.
A rebuilt Geep with 645 power assemblies and a four stack manifold. Not much can beat the deafening roar these belt out at run 8.
I also like the Fairbanks Morse OP engines. They have a deep powerful hum.
I would like to hear the Hamilton engine used in the early Lima diesels. I have only heard a recording of one off in the distance.
While I stated earlier that my favorite sounding prime mover was the 16V645E3 of the SD-40, I think I may have to ammend that. That engine is definitely the one I have the most fond memories of from when I was a kid. However I sometimes train chase. I like to pace the engines on freight trains through north Houston and at times I can be doing 60 mph with them at full power moving alongside. It's an awesome sound. Last night I did the same thing. I think my favorite sounding prime mover is the one right outside my window that I'm currently chasing. It doesn't matter which one it is at the time. They all sound powerful and they all put a smile on my face. My favorite is moment specific.
My favorite is a normally aspirated EMD model 567 such as in a GP7, F7, etc.
Why? I guess I am just a traditionalist and just love the exhaust sound when they are cranking up in yard service or accelerating away from a stop.
I think that I'm going to have to ammend my earlier post about the engines. I do like the 645, I'd have to say that the 710 has really grown on me. I like hearing them coming down the CSX Dothan Sub line here pulling a long mixed freight. Now last night I got to hear a real music treat. Pulling through on a grain train northbound was a GEVO, SD70ACe, a GP40-2, and a -8, boy oh boy, talk about a musical ensemble (sp?) that was!
eolafan My favorite is a normally aspirated EMD model 567 such as in a GP7, F7, etc. Why? I guess I am just a traditionalist and just love the exhaust sound when they are cranking up in yard service or accelerating away from a stop.
One of my most memorable cab rides was in an E-8 down south. I particularly enjoyed it because, since there are 2 prime movers, all my favorite sounds are multiplied by 2. Early Alco's are great, too, Rs series and S series switchers, since they always sounded like they were ready to stall out. But open the throttle and they take off like a rocket and leave a great cloud of smoke behind!
Hands down the 16-645E3C from EMD. Deep and guttural; high and piercing.
Anyhting that doesn't sound like a coffee grinder...I like the beat of those old alcos especially..I would catch myself tapping my foot to the beat of the engine. I also like the sound of the EMD 645 engine.. I like them all I guess...
My vote would be for an Alco 539 engine.
Rick Rowlands
J&L Narrow Gauge Railroad
Youngstown, OH
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