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Diesel-Engine Startup Sounds

MELGARMELGAROGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I recently posted a video of the startup sounds of my MTH Premier model of New Haven Railroad Alco DL-109 diesel locomotive #0719 (20-2325-1 with PS2). DL-109 locomotives began service on the New Haven in December 1941. They pulled passenger trains by day, freight trains at night, and were the first successful dual-service diesel locomotives. They were geared for a maximum speed of 80 miles-per-hour and had two 6-cylinder Alco 539T turbocharged engines, each with 1000 horsepower.

The model’s startup sounds are excellent and realistic, but I don’t know if they’re really from a DL-109. They seem to be the startup sounds of only one engine, and the DL-109 had two. Did they start the engines one-at-a-time or both at the same time? Also, since no Alco DL-109 locomotives have been preserved, I doubt that MTH had the opportunity to record one for this model. And, having watched some online videos of smoky Alco diesel-engine startups, it may take several minutes until all cylinders are firing and the engine is running smoothly – longer than is practical on a model.

Videos with startup sounds for the MTH New Haven Alco DL-109 #0719 and, by comparison, for the MTH New Haven Fairbanks-Morse CPA-24-5 #793 (20-20474-1 with PS3), whose prototype had a 2400 horsepower 12-cylinder opposed-piston engine, are attached below. Canadian-made versions of locomotives with this type of engine have been preserved and conceivably could have been used to record the MTH sounds.

I enjoy the MTH diesel-engine startup sounds. Can anyone provide more information on this subject?

MELGAR

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MELGAR2_2023_0417_01V_NH_0719_12X8_STARTUP_42S
MELGAR2_2023_0417_02V_NH_793_12X8_STARTUP_35S
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Number 90Number 90OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Mel, your suspicion -- that each prime mover on an Alco-GE DL-109 was started separately -- is correct. The same is true of EMD E series passenger locomotives.  On dual-engined diesel locomotives, there were always two engine control panels, each with its own isolation switch, as well as start and stop push buttons.

I don't want to rain on your parade, Mel, but MTH used a sound file from a 251 Series Alco diesel.  MTH sometimes did not let prototype sounds or prototype pilots "interfere" with making model trains.

Prototype DL-109's had a pair of 539, straight-6 cylinder turbocharged McIntosh & Seymore diesels, the same engine that was used on S2 and S4 switchers.  They were very rough at idle, rattling and knocking at a very low RPM, and you could hear the turbocharger whistling softly.  They only had a maximum of 700 RPM, wide open, and when the engine speed was reduced, you could hear the turbocharger whistling reduce its pitch more slowly than the diesel engine.  By contrast, the Alco 244 and 251 diesel engines used on the postwar road units were raspy and they more rapidly responded to throttle changes.  You would not mistake the sound of one Alco engine for the other.

I have an MTH Alco-GE S2 switch engine, and it has the same engine sound file as your DL-109.  There is not an easy fix, so I decided a long time ago not to lose any sleep over it and enjoy the good qualities of the model.  But . . . the S2 -- like your DL-109 -- looks good, runs good, and is very reliable.  I like it, even if it does not sound totally prototypical.  The same applies to my MTH FT locomotives which do not have proper FT pilots.

MELGARMELGAROGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Tom,

Thank you for the education. I was hoping that someone, such as yourself, could enlighten me, especially with regard to locomotives with two diesel engines.

I had surmised that, as you say, MTH 'did not let prototype sounds or prototype pilots "interfere" with making model trains.' For me, that does not detract from enjoyment of their products.

MELGAR

Last edited by MELGAR

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Tags: diesel engine startup sounds, Startup Sounds
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