The psychology of steam vs. diesel and electric

[CoggesRailway]

The volumes of steam coming from various places, the claggy exhaust at times and not others, the noises as steam moves around, the hiss and steam when cylinder cocks open, the blowing off, the heat, the smells, the Stanier clank.....I've just persuaded myself to go up the Severn Valley sometime this weekend.

I have had a couple of visitors who congratulated me on the quality of my sound effects ............ not realising that it's a SVR train running up the other side of the valley.

Classic!!!
I have given in and reordered a brian jones class 37 card, combined with a mini car audio bass wuffer sounds quite good. but generally I am with you lot!

 

[whatlep]

The volumes of steam coming from various places, the claggy exhaust at times and not others, the noises as steam moves around, the hiss and steam when cylinder cocks open, the blowing off, the heat, the smells, the Stanier clank.....I've just persuaded myself to go up the Severn Valley sometime this weekend.

I have had a couple of visitors who congratulated me on the quality of my sound effects ............ not realising that it's a SVR train running up the other side of the valley.

The blowing off noises were very realistic, though a bit too loud for comfort.

 

[yb281]

The volumes of steam coming from various places, the claggy exhaust at times and not others, the noises as steam moves around, the hiss and steam when cylinder cocks open, the blowing off, the heat, the smells, the Stanier clank.....I've just persuaded myself to go up the Severn Valley sometime this weekend.

I have had a couple of visitors who congratulated me on the quality of my sound effects ............ not realising that it's a SVR train running up the other side of the valley.

The blowing off noises were very realistic, though a bit too loud for comfort.

Of course, that's the one thing you don't get from sound cards ................ the smell. 8|8|

 

[Gizzy]

The volumes of steam coming from various places, the claggy exhaust at times and not others, the noises as steam moves around, the hiss and steam when cylinder cocks open, the blowing off, the heat, the smells, the Stanier clank.....I've just persuaded myself to go up the Severn Valley sometime this weekend.

I have had a couple of visitors who congratulated me on the quality of my sound effects ............ not realising that it's a SVR train running up the other side of the valley.

The blowing off noises were very realistic, though a bit too loud for comfort.

Of course, that's the one thing you don't get from sound cards ................ the smell. 8|8|

Are we talking about Mel's version of Pootank Pass here.... :'(

 

[Rhinochugger]

Of course, that's the one thing you don't get from sound cards ................ the smell. 8|8|

I think 'the clue is in the question', sir We're talking SOUND cards

 

[yb281]

Of course, that's the one thing you don't get from sound cards ................ the smell. 8|8|

I think 'the clue is in the question', sir We're talking SOUND cards

And I think sir, that someone needs to read the context of the above conversation.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Of course, that's the one thing you don't get from sound cards ................ the smell. 8|8|

I think 'the clue is in the question', sir We're talking SOUND cards

And I think sir, that someone needs to read the context of the above conversation.

Nah, just joshin' - trying to pick up on a pun - probably badly

Anyhoo, back to the more serious issue of monotonous sounds, it's partly because we don't 'drive' track powered locos, we actually set them at a constant current so, unless the sound speed is driven by a visual/induction mechanism on the axle, it's never going to change in pitch, even those that are sufficiently sophisticated to have an adjustable speed setting. yeah, I know, I can be boring :sleep:

 

[Madman]

In reading through the replies, I remembered an "O" gauge, Lionel, Nickle Plate Berkshire that I had many years ago. It was purchased in the early eighties and had "The sound of steam". When at rest, it sounded like the real thing. All kinds of tapping and hissing. Sounded like a living being, just sitting there on the track at idle. The LGB sound units have a similar effect and have added the sound of the fireman shoveling coal.

The bottom line here is that, to my ears, a steam loco does sound more interesting at idle than a diesel.