Why are HST's (Class 43's) so loud?

[All Line Rover]

Why is it that HST's are so loud? They are deafeningly loud when you stand next to them, particularly when they accelerate as they leave a station!

Why is that so? Class 220/221/222's aren't so loud!

 

[Crossover]

I would hazard a guess that is may be something to do with power/weight. HSTs are pushing/hauling quite a lot potentially all from two engines, so especially from a start, it will probably take a fair amount of effort

The MU's have an engine per carriage distributing the weight and power more evenly so probably have to put less effort into shifting itself.

I'd hazard a guess that 91+Mk4's are a similar story as the locos are quite noisy (could be fans though) and that is something I remember from my childhood, being deafened at Wakefield Westgate waving family off! The likes of 350's and (moreso) Pendolinos are very quiet setting off.

 

[NXEA!]

Why is it that HST's are so loud? They are deafeningly loud when you stand next to them, particularly when they accelerate as they leave a station!

Why is that so? Class 220/221/222's aren't so loud!

Jesus man, if you think the MTU HST's are loud, you should've heard the bloody Valenta's when they were around! Deafening isn't even the word!

 

[Crossover]

The other thing is that the HST engines are in line of sight (and hearing) whereas on MU's they are underfloor and therefore below platform level which probably also drowns out some of the sound too. Thinking about it - Voyagers still make a fair amount of noise when pulling away etc

 

[Phil6219]

Jesus man, if you think the MTU HST's are loud, you should've heard the bloody Valenta's when they were around! Deafening isn't even the word!

Bingo! Today as far as I'm concerned the class 43 sound depressing, I mean because I knew what they used to sound like (the shear noise and the rumble of the bass going through the platform and through your ribcage) and now they just sound well... for lack of a better word, naff.

I'm just looking forward to the day when they start to enter preservation and the Valenta group stick a few proper engines in a few

 

[londonmidland]

What station was this? If it was a VP185, it would of been quite loud!

 

[matchmaker]

Jesus man, if you think the MTU HST's are loud, you should've heard the bloody Valenta's when they were around! Deafening isn't even the word!

I saw an old lady nearly have a heart attack as the rear power car (on full chat) on the "Highland Chieftain" passed her at Stirling Station!

 

[ACE1888]

'Retro' thoughts on the Valentas 'screaming' after reading this thread...never thought I'd be thinking about that!! Variety ain't what it used to be...funny though, still don't find HST's very photogenic...

 

[DarloRich]

Why is it that HST's are so loud? They are deafeningly loud when you stand next to them, particularly when they accelerate as they leave a station!

Why is that so? Class 220/221/222's aren't so loud!

Wow - Loud? Deafening? Not any more - They sound like bloody buses these days :cry: They are so quiet.

The noise they used to make went right through you, it was so powerful! It was so loud and high pitched. Wonderful stuff! The Paxman Valenta was some engine

 

[YorkshireBear]

Wow - Loud? Deafening? Not any more - They sound like bloody buses these days :cry: They are so quiet.

The noise they used to make went right through you, it was so powerful! It was so loud and high pitched. Wonderful stuff! The Paxman Valenta was some engine

My interest in trains stems from days sat on meadowhall with my nan. I used to jump up and down like a kid ( i was 3 at the time stopped when i was 12) at the time when a IC/XC train came through i oved the scream they made it was fantasic, bless my nan she covered here ears

 

[junglejames]

It depends what engine the HST had. If it was the VP185, then the noise would have been the turbo. It makes a high pitched scream. As for the MTUs though. Thats just a gentle rumble. Nothing majorly loud about them.

 

[RyanB]

I remember once comparing the noise that an HST with a Valenta passing by to that of a jet engine, just goes right through you. They are very different beasts now.

 

[mallard]

I also have very fond memories of screaming Valentas... Mine were at Totness in the early/mid 1990's and wanting to run and hide from the screaming train having just arrived to visit my grandparents!

 

[YorkshireBear]

I also have very fond memories of screaming Valentas... Mine were at Totness in the early/mid 1990's and wanting to run and hide from the screaming train having just arrived to visit my grandparents!

similar memories from dawlish ! and totnes actually on numerous visits to South devon railway

 

[NXEA!]

I also have very fond memories of screaming Valentas... Mine were at Totness in the early/mid 1990's and wanting to run and hide from the screaming train having just arrived to visit my grandparents!

I used to not like going to Paddington until I was about 6 because of the amount of exhaust fumes that would hang over the station from the many HST's that burbled away between duties, and also I used to be frightened walking up the Platforms with my Grandad next to the HST's as they were so deafening they scared me, and that was just when they were idling. When those things used to accelerate out of the station, you used to know about it. Ahh, happy days.

 

[broadbander]

The Valenta HSTs have to be one of the best sounds ever

Beasty Valenta HST start

 

[Minilad]

God help the OP if he ever stood next to a Deltic on full power

 

[asylumxl]

God help the OP if he ever stood next to a Deltic on full power

Yeh he'd be deafened by the noise coming from the enthusiasts chuntering on about clag and bashing.

 

[Lampshade]

The Valenta HSTs have to be one of the best sounds ever

Beasty Valenta HST start

Prefer this one myself

 

[Pumbaa]

I prefer a Cummins QSK19R.

*Runs and hides*

 

[All Line Rover]

The Valenta HSTs have to be one of the best sounds ever

Beasty Valenta HST start

OK, that is loud!

Are there any HST's with Valenta engines still? When did they change them?

I don't know much about HST's because Pendolino's had been introduced once I was old enough to understand anything significant about trains! I have very vague memories of slam door trains with windows, and the large buffet car that they had (and still have of course). I must have traveled on a HST fewer than 5 times before Pendolino's were introduced.

 

[ainsworth74]

Are there any HST's with Valenta engines still? When did they change them?

No the last to change over were GCs towards the beginning of the year. But the change over started around 2005 methinks on FGW.

 

[Minilad]

Yeh he'd be deafened by the noise coming from the enthusiasts chuntering on about clag and bashing.

Oh yeah....but at least in them days there were things worth bashing !!

 

[Aictos]

The InterCity East Coast HSTs used to be very loud with the Valenta engines but since being re-engineered with MTU engines are very much quiter.

 

[ainsworth74]

Ahh this thread has reminded me just how much I love the sound of a Valenta powered HST. I'm not usually one to be overcome by exclamations of "oh my lordzzzz" but I will make an exception in this case...

*goes off to froth at youtube videos*

 

[colchesterken]

I love the sound the shape and everything about class 52s

 

[lm321412]

Class 220/221/222's aren't so loud!

The 220/221s are absolutely deafening when idle at certain strations...

 

[ainsworth74]

The 220/221s are absolutely deafening when idle at certain strations...

You should try 180s at Hull, I once had to ask a member of HT staff a question just before departure and the only way for us to communicate was to scream at each other!

 

[londonmidland]

How many people have and haven't experienced a VP185? They sound like Valentas when at full speed! Surely you cant compare an MTU to it!?

 

[Liam]

No the last to change over were GCs towards the beginning of the year. But the change over started around 2005 methinks on FGW.

Does the NMT still have Valenta engines?