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Identification of diesels a brief dissertation by Jamessquared

Discussion in 'Diesel & Electric Traction' started by RalphW, Jan 24, 2013.

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Somebody is taking this thread far too seriously...

    Tom
     
  2. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Ahh, Deltics. More clag than a kettle on bad coal but, despite being the top link locos on the East Coast, they had totally rubbish horns. Sound like a goat with asthma.

    I'm really looking forward to Tom's later installments on the different classes of diesel multiple units ...

    Richard
     
  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Oooh crikey, aren't they all the same? All I know about DMUs is that when catching one in the old days from Reading to Redhill, the driver would ask all the passengers to get out and push in the vicinity of Dorking...

    Tom
     
  4. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    You have been warned before about making that sort of remarks about Deltics, Victors little book now has a full chapter noting your transgressions.

    Diesel multiple units, Get a coach, or set, whichever you prefer, and stick a bus engine under each one. That's it, what more is there to say..... Oh well yes there is a cheaper version, get a bus, stick steel wheels on it and voila a DMU.

    See I really am getting the hang of this...
     
  5. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    A bit like steam engines being "all the same"? There's a chap on here - goes by the name of M59137 (must be some sort of secret code) - who can apparently spot the difference between each class from the range of about 75 miles. And that's with his eyes shut.

    Looks like the teacher has got some homework to do ...

    Richard
     
  6. Sheff

    Sheff Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'm sure he does it aurally - their luggage racks and opening lights probably vibrate at different frequencies - so you have the 101 MHz, 108 MHz etc, tune in to them just like VHF? :music: (That'll be the last lift I get from him :doh:)
     
  7. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Like a bit of MetCam thrash do you Sheff? As long as your mate doesn't do it orally, I don't mind.

    If you fancy a bit of Deltic horn action, have a listen here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVVqpVCAOzU

    Told you they were rubbish!

    Richard
     
  8. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Deltic horns do seem like a bit of an after thought, I assume they started by fitting an LMS whistle and went from there.
    Then again HST horns aren't that much better.
    G# and E# I believe.
     
  9. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Your disparaging remarks have been noted. Do not be surprised if you wake up next to a horse's head.
     
  10. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Should have travelled in the old Cravens units on the GN. We passengers had to push them all the way to Kings Cross, even on the downhill sections.
     
  11. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Really !! Your hearing needs correction - Deltic horns sound like strangled ducks !
     
  12. Garratt15a

    Garratt15a New Member

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    Ahh Deltic horns. When first built they must have been fitted under/behind the buffer beam. Later they were moved up onto the nose. They were odd horns and not made by Westinghouse or Desilux like most of the other diesels.
    We had the same make of horns fitted to the MOD Army Rustons I used to drive. I took one apart once to see if I could improve the sound. The diaphragm was held in place with a rubber ball type arrangement with a small locking nut device.
    The same horns were fitted on the SR EMU's & DEMU's when the whistles were removed and also the class 73's & 74's.
    Hope this is of some use......My guess is BR got a good price on a 'job lot'
    Andy
     
  13. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    :shocked: :shocked: In 53 years of marriage I don't recall ever having an offer like that. I hope you obliged the lady. :madgrin:
     
  14. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Thank you for your contribution. :mmph: :mad2:

    That's it, the book is out and ready to receive names.

    THE DELTICS WERE THE FINEST DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES ON THE RAILS. :director::director:

    AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE HORNS

    I've noted yon Fred Kerr fella as well. :mmph:
     
  15. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    well the Devil had horns and he was no good either. :)
     
  16. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Calm down, dear! I was just saying that Deltic horns don't match their performance. They should have a full fanfare of trumpets, not some wheezing goat/duck/(insert animal of choice).

    By the way, did you know that HST horns are only a major 2nd apart in pitch, rather than the major/minor 3rd of other locos? Don't know whether this was deliberate to warn track gangs that they might get squished at high speed.

    Think we need to move some of these posts to a new 'Hornzzzz' thread, so Ralph doesn't get too distracted. It might get more people visiting the forum from Google too, but maybe not for the right reasons.

    Richard
     
  17. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Hang on, hang on, now I am getting confused. I spent a good couple of hours searching the interweb thingy for "Big Hooters" and frankly it was a pleasant couple of hours, though I didn't learn much about diesels. :redface: But now everyone seems to be suggesting I should be searching for "getting the horn" instead? :confused: Have I been using the wrong search terms all along?

    Tom
     
  18. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Do you mean to say you have got past the parental filter on the search facility....:nono:
     
  19. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    Class 41:
    [​IMG]

    Lego train:
    [​IMG]

    See?
     
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I accidentally stumbled into it, you see... I'll go and say 100 "Hail Mar-EEs" in penance...

    Now, amongst my studies in large horns, and as a special benefit for Richard, who feels that the horns on a Deltic should really be a fanfare to match their performance, is this what you had in mind?

    [YOUTUBE]3Iw6bCO-nzM[/YOUTUBE]

    Would certainly make any trackside worker stand well clear if they heard that coming towards them at 100mph...

    Tom
     

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