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Whenever I am standing next to the engine it makes this whoop whoop sound is this coming from the toilets or is this the engine letting off steam? Anyone here can give me info on this whoop whoop sound? Thanks
Posts: 259 | Registered: Jan 2005
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I know what sound you're talking about, and I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the electrical system. It's definitely not the toilet and it's not a pressure relief valve letting off steam. It's a device turning on and it does it automatically. Which device it is, I'm not entirely sure....I'll ask an engineer friend and see if he knows. I know that Amtrak's GE's and UP's GE's both make that sound.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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A GE engine will make a "whoop" sound as the air compressor kicks on, but from the post it is not clear if the sound was coming from the engine or a car.
Posts: 41 | From: South Dakota | Registered: Sep 2008
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Yep the "whoop" is the locomotive compressor startup. I've heard this on BNSF dash 9s as well, although it's not as loud as the Amtrak whoop.
I have a recording of the whoop for use on my HO scale P42s, as well as for use in the computer game Microsoft Train Sim.
Not sure if they do this anymore, but Superliners used to whine (heard from the outside) when a toilet flushed.
-------------------- Matt Visit gallery for photos of our train layouts Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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Oh yes, the Superliner toilets flushing still make the sound of a jet taking off. Cracks me up every time I hear it.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Quick quiz: Why was opening a vestibule window to take a photograph an especially poor idea during the time of the original Superliner toilets?
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: Quick quiz: Why was opening a vestibule window to take a photograph an especially poor idea during the time of the original Superliner toilets?
Because, the toilets at that time were designed to "vent" when full by spraying the contents outside in a fine mist. This was supposed to take place only when the train was underway. This was not always the case, however. The valves would also freeze and become clogged during the winters that took place along many train routes, and, as a result, many toilets would fill up and then stop working. this would leave the train with nonfunctional toilet equipment, and, of course, the on board crew would have no way of correcting this situation. You better believe that this led to many passengers saying, "never again!" to Amtrak. There were a few trips in the late 1980s where this Amtrak passenger boarded and prayed that the train would have one of the old Santa Fe high-levels, as they would have the older style drop toilets which would not be subject to such failures. It would appear to be less hassle to reinstitute the older style "Drop" toilets that emptied directly on the tracks (disgusting as that sounds) .
This was before Amtrak instituted the current system.
-------------------- "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one corner of the Earth all one's life." Posts: 506 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Mar 2002
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Why did Amtrak have retention toilets designed into the Superliners instead of the old-reliable old-style drop chutes?
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Was it because of that story about an unfortunate Florida senator who happened to be fishing under a rail bridge when...well you get the picture.
I so loved the old Hi-Level restrooms. The foot pedal sinks were great. And yes I remember holding the flush down to watch the tracks go by.
I clearly remember the odorous Superliners misters. On a private car trip many years ago (Cal Zephyr) we did not stay on the observation platform too long after the train started moving after a station stop. Seems the misters kicked in always after station stops. Interesting smells you'd get sitting out on the platform. Some were bad enough to keep you indoors for a while.
I thought the "jet" whine was related to the old misters. Guess not if they still whine.
Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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I never knew that about the misters. Interesting information, but man is that gross.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Henry Kisor: Why did Amtrak have retention toilets designed into the Superliners instead of the old-reliable old-style drop chutes?
I've heard many a story about track workers being sprayed. It didn't even need to be "misted" since, at high speed, it kind of breaks up... Yet another reason to look away if you know that that train about to pass you doesn't have retention tanks.
Geoff M.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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In the era of the drop chute there was a sign in the rest room(the ladies at least) that one should not flush while the train was in the station. For longer stops the doors to the toilet section were locked by the attendents.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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"Kindly flush the toilet after each use except when train is standing at a station"
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I have another locomotive question-one with hopefully doesn't involve waste-disposal systems:
I've noticed that P42's make a "sputtering" sound, like short bursts of air being released, when they are idle. Even when the engine is shut off, the sputtering continues. What is the source of this sound?
Posts: 286 | From: Knee deep in the retention tank | Registered: Jan 2006
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I think that is just the the pressure relief valve opening and releasing quick bursts of air.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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