The little putt-putt railroad that comes through our downtown, the Ellis & Eastern, has 2 switchers with a distinctive sound to them. My ears are very sensitive to low pitched sounds, so I can usually here them long before they even close to me. They have a distinctive, really low-pitched, thumpa-thumpa-thumpa sound to them, similar to a helicopter at long range. What makes them sound different than other locomotives? I should note, they are old EMD SW-something switchers.
Piston slap.
Sounds like either piston slap or flat wheels on the locomotives or cars Is the E and E still shifting thoes ore jennys back and forth across Sioux Falls Larry
All day long!
What is piston slap? Talk small please, I’m not mechanically inclined.
“Essentially, the piston moves sideways and “slaps” or “knocks” hard against the cylinder bore and causes damage to the engine pistons and cylinders, excessive smoke emissions, excessive oil consumption, carbon buildup on piston heads, decreased mileage, and a loud and obnoxious “slapping” or “knocking” noise.”
From www.pistonslap.com
Thanks for the explanation. It’s so topical, that it has it’s own website![(-D]