Lacathedrale Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Hello there, I'm really curious as to what EMU is making this rising 'eeeee' sound in the clip below (time stamp 2:39) https://youtu.be/JyyAR8jEuJQ?t=139 I gather this is the traction motors? As soon as I heard it, it took me right back to travelling into London when I was younger to meet friends. Many thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 It will be a Networker. The noise is from the invertor which creates the variable frequency AC drive for the AC traction motors. The "changing gear" type of sound effect is not too far removed from what is actually happening electronically speaking. The invertors have a limited frequency range. When they get to their limit as speed increases, they drop to a frequency a harmonic below and can then increase frequency again as the motor speed increases. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacathedrale Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 Perfect, thank you! For some reason I thought the sound predated Networkers as I'm fairly certain that they weren't around at the time I was thinking - but clearly I have things muddled up. Thank you sir! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Storey Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 It's so easy to mis-remember sounds from earlier days. I have often been confused between sounds I remember as a child/teen when frequently using the Northern Line tube (1938, 195x ex Central stock and 1967 stock) and the sounds I remember from when I moved sarf and used and then worked with SR 1950's/60's stock. Indeed, when I first played the sound you have tagged, I immediately thought of a tube train. But despite a bit of a search on YouTube for early tube videos, I can find nothing like it! But Titan is indeed correct about the Networker - it was such a strange sound to our ears at the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted November 10, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 10, 2018 (edited) Perfect, thank you! For some reason I thought the sound predated Networkers as I'm fairly certain that they weren't around at the time I was thinking - but clearly I have things muddled up. Thank you sir! You have to remember that the Networker fleet were the first EMUs to use AC traction motors and the technology to implement these was thus somewhat different to what is used today. All EMUs built since then use AC traction motors, but such is the rapid rate of advancement in power electronics during the 1990s the Networker is the only fleet to have these 'gear changing' sounds with subsequent builds using different components and a smoother more consistent sound. Edited November 10, 2018 by phil-b259 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DY444 Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 You have to remember that the Networker fleet were the first EMUs to use AC traction motors and the technology to implement these was thus somewhat different to what is used today. All EMUs built since then use AC traction motors, but such is the rapid rate of advancement in power electronics during the 1990s the Networker is the only fleet to have these 'gear changing' sounds with subsequent builds using different components and a smoother more consistent sound. It's the GTO drives. Class 323s make a similar sound as does 96TS on the Jubilee line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Buckner Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Some modern singing locomotives: 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pH Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 (edited) The earliest Vancouver area Skytrains (still in service) make that "gear changing" sound as well. You can hear it clearly in the first 12 seconds of this (much longer) video: Edited November 10, 2018 by pH 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandora Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 The Networkers are approaching 30 years of service, when are they due to be replaced? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 Their design life was 40 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted November 11, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 11, 2018 The Networkers are approaching 30 years of service, when are they due to be replaced? It is strongly rumoured that they will be ditched when the next franchise winner is announced (in the same way SWR are renewing their entire suburban fleet because politicians can tell voters "look we have got you some shiny new trains") Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 It is strongly rumoured that they will be ditched when the next franchise winner is announced (in the same way SWR are renewing their entire suburban fleet because politicians can tell voters "look we have got you some shiny new trains") And those same Politicians then complain about how expensive the railways are and its all those nasty overpaid train crews fault! Oops that a bit political isnt it, naughty naughty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandora Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 The Doh-Ray-Me notes or tones of the singing Taurus Electric, post #6, are the intrevals half or full octaves? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenrithBeacon Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 When I was in Greece in 2012 I took a ride on a dmu to Athens and was struck by just how similar the sound was to the Networker. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classsix T Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Class 105 Cravens DMUs pre-dated Skrillex by decades. Both will leave you with bleeding eardrums. C6T. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin1985 Posted November 20, 2018 Share Posted November 20, 2018 I'd always thought the noise a Desiro EMU makes as it pulls away is very gear-changey, like the Networkers. Much more noticeable than a Electrostar of the same vintage. The Networkers have recently all been re-tractioned, haven't they? Have a feeling it was by Hitachi? Although I pass through London Bridge most days, I can't say I've particularly noticed what noise they make now? Certainly hadn't noticed the tones of the Taurus locos, fascinating! Kind of want a sound chip fitted model now ... J Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DY444 Posted November 21, 2018 Share Posted November 21, 2018 I'd always thought the noise a Desiro EMU makes as it pulls away is very gear-changey, like the Networkers. Much more noticeable than a Electrostar of the same vintage. The Networkers have recently all been re-tractioned, haven't they? Have a feeling it was by Hitachi? Although I pass through London Bridge most days, I can't say I've particularly noticed what noise they make now? Certainly hadn't noticed the tones of the Taurus locos, fascinating! Kind of want a sound chip fitted model now ... J Iirc it was only 465/0 and 465/1 (ie the ones which originally had Brush Traction equipment) and the programme was finished around 2010 so not that recent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now