philiprporter Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 I hope this question hasn't been answered before (I cant find it anywhere, but I apologise if it has been addressed) - what is the almost musical whining sound that early AC electrics (class 81-87) make when on the move arriving or departing from stations and other stops? The 'note' is constant, so its not the traction motors, as that presumably would rise/fall in tone during acceleration deceleration? I find it an amazingly nostalgic noise as it reminds me of walking down the ramps at Euston when I was a kid, to go and see my cousins in Birmingham. The noise can be heard on this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVlUdHXZewo) at 4:29 and again at 5:36 (and at various other places when AC electrics are arriving and departing). Is it traction motor blowers? I would say it may be, but presumably modern AC electrics also have blowers, but they don't have that nostalgic (to me ears!) musical note? Thanks in advance for anyone who can help! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernman46 Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 It might be the cooling fans for the various types of mercury-arc / early silicon & germanium diode rectifiers originally fitted ?? The clack-cluck-clack-clunk-clacketty-clunketty-clacketty-clunketty of a DB Class 141 tap-changer going through the motions is hard to beat too ............... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted February 20, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 20, 2017 It might be the cooling fans for the various types of mercury-arc / early silicon & germanium diode rectifiers originally fitted ?? The clack-cluck-clack-clunk-clacketty-clunketty-clacketty-clunketty of a DB Class 141 tap-changer going through the motions is hard to beat too ............... Not to mention hard to say quickly... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evertrainz Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 The sound of the blowers, activated when the reverser is switched into forward or reverse. Hummed in the note of D, while classes AL1 through AL5 hummed in the note B. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCB Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 The sound of the blowers, activated when the reverser is switched into forward or reverse. Hummed in the note of D, while classes AL1 through AL5 hummed in the note B. Is that concert pitch A=440 at 20 degrees C? Only joking but as a Brass player I always think in Eb or Bb never concert pitch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philiprporter Posted February 21, 2017 Author Share Posted February 21, 2017 The sound of the blowers, activated when the reverser is switched into forward or reverse. Hummed in the note of D, while classes AL1 through AL5 hummed in the note B. Thanks for this but apologies for my ignorance here - what do you mean by blowers? Are these fans that cool traction motors or some other part of the loco? Best wishes, Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunningduck Posted February 21, 2017 Share Posted February 21, 2017 The sound of the blowers, activated when the reverser is switched into forward or reverse. Hummed in the note of D, while classes AL1 through AL5 hummed in the note B. Is that the same blowing sound made by a 91 just before it sets off? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Davexoc Posted February 21, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2017 Thanks for this but apologies for my ignorance here - what do you mean by blowers? Are these fans that cool traction motors or some other part of the loco? Best wishes, Phil Traction motor blowers don't make that much noise, so that is cooling for the control gear upstairs. Similarly the class 50s were called Hoovers due to the fans originally fitted that cooled the rheostatic braking system, far noisier than the traction motor blowers. Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
45125 Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Traction motor blowers don't make that much noise, so that is cooling for the control gear upstairs. Similarly the class 50s were called Hoovers due to the fans originally fitted that cooled the rheostatic braking system, far noisier than the traction motor blowers. Dave The noise on most AC locos is the blower motors, these not only cool the traction motors but they also do the smoothing chokes for the motors. You also have a radiator fan that cools the transformer oil. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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