What's your favorite sounding prime mover & why?

[klahm]

Odd and contradictory though it may seem, Alco 539 (S2 switcher) and EMD 16-645.  Former because you always know when it's starting to move, both aurally and visually.  Latter because it's just so smooth and, as others have noted, nearly musical.

GEs just sound too much like washing machines.

[BamaCSX83]

Definitely an EMD engine.  I don't live too aweful far from the tracks here at the house and hearing either the local shortline's GP38-2 and GP38 lashed up together, or their two GP38AC high noses tied up together, it just all sounds good to me.

[Anonymous]

The newer they get, the quieter they get.  That can be good or bad, depending on your viewpoint.  I like them loud.  I like the sound of both the normally aspirated EMD engines and the earlier turbocharged versions.  I also liked the loud chopping sound of the engines used in GE U33-Cs when pulling wide open.  It almost reminds me of steam locomotives. 

 

Speaking of musical tones, has anybody ever noticed that the basic musical characteristic heard with an EMD normally aspirated V-16 is a minor chord?  I listened to a lot of them before that thought ever occurred to me.   Just think about that the next time you hear one.   

Baldwins could sound pretty gutsy when they were working hard.  They always sounded kind of ify when they were notching up, kind of like they had a mind of their own and were not sure they were ready to go to work.

[Kootenay Central]

.

[WSOR 3801]

 I'm fond of normally aspriated 645s.  Not sure if I prefer 12 or 16 cylinders.  When the UP sends a pair of GP38s on a fairly long train past here, you can hear them barking farther away then the normal SD70s.  Dragging a train through the yard with a pair of MP15ACs (12 cylinder) sounds neat too. 

[fredswain]

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.

I'm with you on this one. They sound very distinctive. Hearing one actually brings back memories of being a kid. We lived a mile from the tracks back then and I just remember hearing that distinctive hum going by in the middle of the night. There's no other locomotive sound out there that is as memorable to me.

[silicon212]

EMD 16-645E3 turbocharged two-stroker.  Because it is a musical engine.

The turbo adds the perfect treble to the engine's bass, and the blower and generator complete the musical midtones to generate a well-rounded song of power.

[JonathanS]

Hands down it is a 12 cylinder 244.  Idling, in notch 8 or anywhere between it is a sound to remember.

[Kootenay Central]

.

[trainfan1221]

Older GEs, when they still sounded like something that meant business, were great. Newer ones sometimes sound a little too muffled but sound good when starting to move. For me, a 645 whether it's an SD40 or SD50 or what have you, grinding at full load up a reasonable grade (Cassandra, PA. comes to mind) is something that makes everything worthwhile.  The GEs sound good too but I think the EMD wins out.  Just my humble opinion.  I am not too familiar with others, have seen Alcos but never any under a sufficient enough load to really judge the sound.

[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. 

The spitting you hear is the automatic water drains on the air tanks to keep moisture to a minimum.

[nody]

OK Guys, it's getting too quiet in here.

For me, and I'd bet you, the sounds of locomotives are a big part of the attraction. I even like the "pisht pisht...." of the air system. (what is that exactly anyway? Air dryer like on a truck?)

 Being a new (train) guy, I'll go out on a limb (hardly) and say I like the sound of a 645 E3, just as it powers up from idle under load. Something about that dead slow idle, the blower starting to whine, the metallic "zschringg zschringg..." accompanied by the low, throaty "rooomroooomrooom."

You tell me why it sounds so good!?

The 7FDL's and 710's sound too sewing machine to me. Am I missing something?

 

I did a search and couldn't find a related thread, even though I know this must have been discussed to death a hundred times. Well, what's the point of a forum if not to BS about your favorite subjects? Beats hearing about Barack & Brittany!