Question regarding Class 68 loco noise level

js1000 · 3 Feb 2020

mike57 said:
With the regular appearance of Class 68's at Scarborough one thing that strikes me is the noise level from them. They seem much louder than anything else around at the moment. Has anyone taken any sound level readings on the platform.

My office is a couple of hundred yards from the line at Malton, and everyone has commented on it. You can hear them coming a couple of miles away.

Fortunately on board the Mk5's the engine noise isn't noticeable unless you are in a tunnel.

I do sympathise. I live in South Manchester a couple of miles from the Styal Line and you can hear these 68s thundering along during the evening. It's the 'thump' which is what you hear and the problem.

The only comparable units are the Class 185 which is not that loud to be honest. The 319s are pretty horrendous when at speed - it's a hollow noise that seems to emanate from the underside of the front and rear carriage as there is no equipment underneath.

But yes I can see this rumbling on (if you pardon the pun)

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Swedish Keith · 11 Mar 2020

Just a thought...as I zipped past the York depot today I pondered if York residents have been as upset by the 68's nocturnal rumblings as my Scarborough comrades or are they fast asleep/not there at night (the locos not the residents)

Spartacus · 12 Mar 2020

Probably helps as there's been a depot there for a few years now, and 24hr railway operations since the year dot, but the depot there's more or less surrounded by one form of sound barrier or another, the main problem it seems at Scarborough is that the shielding's only on one side, so residents on opposite side of the valley to the railway get it in full force.

greyman42 · 12 Mar 2020

Swedish Keith said:
Just a thought...as I zipped past the York depot today I pondered if York residents have been as upset by the 68's nocturnal rumblings as my Scarborough comrades or are they fast asleep/not there at night (the locos not the residents)

As far as I am aware, there are no 68s maintained at York depot overnight.

Bevan Price · 12 Mar 2020

I don't know how accurate it is, but the sound meter App on my phone gave a sound level of 83 dB (deciBels) standing next to a Class 68 at Liverpool Lime Street. Inside a Class 185, I got a maximum of 66 dB. (Not yet had chance to compare with other diesel locos.)
For comparison, a "quiet-ish" room at home averaged about 25 dB; with TV sound at a comfortable volume for speech, readings were typically 40-50dB.

robbeech · 12 Mar 2020

As mentioned earlier, the issue is not just the volume, it is the frequency. Low frequency sound travels further and is blocked much less by obstacles (walls, buildings etc) than higher frequency sounds. The 68s are known for being generally loud, but known specifically for the increased low frequency output. Over the entire spectrum they are likely louder than a 185 at a given point but at distance seem louder still due to the lower frequency content.
When idiots drive past with loud music in their car, you hear the low frequencies coming a mile off, and unless they have the windows open you'll hardly ever hear much of the rest. If you sit in the car, you'll hear all of it.

tpjm · 12 Mar 2020

js1000 said:
I do sympathise. I live in South Manchester a couple of miles from the Styal Line and you can hear these 68s thundering along during the evening. It's the 'thump' which is what you hear and the problem.

Are you sure it's a Cl68 that you hear? If I recall correctly, there's only one in/out of MIA in the evening at the moment.

37057 · 12 Mar 2020

I've heard one moving around at Longsight when I've been in the wash bypass at AK. That doesn't say much though as I can often hear 319s accelerate south from the mess room too.

boxy321 · 13 Mar 2020

Anybody amused that the quiet coach is next to the loco on Chiltern's silver services??

61653 HTAFC · 13 Mar 2020

boxy321 said:
Anybody amused that the quiet coach is next to the loco on Chiltern's silver services??

I guess... but then in this very thread we've had people comparing the noise inside a 185 to standing on the platform next to a 68. That's not comparing apples and oranges, it's comparing apples and Toyota Landcruisers!

When you're actually on board the TPE sets (even in 1st next to the loco) you can barely hear the 68. Now that may or may not be a good thing!

xotGD · 13 Mar 2020

boxy321 said:
Anybody amused that the quiet coach is next to the loco on Chiltern's silver services??

It's perfect. You can listen to the thrash without being disturbed by people talking on their phones.

Question regarding Class 68 loco noise level

js1000

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Swedish Keith

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Spartacus

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greyman42

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Bevan Price

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robbeech

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tpjm

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37057

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boxy321

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61653 HTAFC

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xotGD

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