I have put a few of the usual suspects in the poll, but if anyone has something else then feel free to reply with such! I feel this could be rather interesting...
Deltic. Edit: I've linked to this before but I think I'll get away with it here. Jump to about 17.45. Mmm... Deltics.
The Keikyu units that had Siemens GTO inverters sounded pretty funky, like a mini Taurus, though they've now had them replaced with newer Toshiba inverters so don't play a tune any more*. *A lot of companies have been swapping out GTO kit for newer tech, while GTO was good at the time and way better than old DC Motors, the newer IGBT/SiC/PMSM stuff is much more efficient, to the point it justifies retractioning.
Just about anything would be my answer, with a personal preference towards steam and classic diesels with a heavy load latched on behind them, but anything works for my generalist view for overall preferences toward locomotives and other rolling stock.
Well, it seems I was a bit off with what I thought would be people’s favourite... Nonetheless, it is very interesting to see what everyone likes. Keep ‘em coming, folks!
MTA New York State R142, R160A & R160B Alstom. Those make a wooshing/siren sound hybrid when departing a station. The video is by NovaBus5189
I love DC motors, quiet and smooth, but unfortunately dated technology. I can never center on a good one, but I love the R46 accleration.
I believe the correct answer is the ying ying ying ying ying of an idling 66 Personally, though, a Class 68 under a roof is one of the best sounds you could ever hear. Though 37s are incredibly impressive to behold once the engines get going.
Want something Newer then try R142A R188 Family R143 MITRAC 1508 and I've been on R142A 7311 & 7474 7 train service. The Video is by BigMan Transit Enthuiast
Deltic. It's not my favourite... as I have others that trigger all kinds of nostalgia, but for sheer, brutal OMG factor, a Deltic being hammered takes some beating. Go to 01:45 in this video.... ...and tell me the hairs on the back of your neck didn't stand up.
Personally, I really, really enjoy the sound of the SŽ 363 Brigitte. It is a very noisy, crackly old electric loco. And it has the whirriest little traction blowers ever. Everything about it just screams "old world" to me and I love it. Oh my god, yes, I adore the Deltic. The Vulcan Deltics are good precisely because they capture the noise, thrash, and clag of a Deltic being rumbled to life incredibly well.
Personally, the GE 7FDL on the AC4400CW is my favorite. My most common railfan area is Donner pass, they sound awesome accelerating a heavy train on the grade.
Either a 37, 50 or 68. 37 for, well, being a 37, 50 for being my favourite BR diesel and 68 because I live on one of the lines where they run and can often hear them full throttling it out of my local station
Amazing to seem them all together. Wikipedia says six now survive: is one of the seven in this decade old video no longer working?
Wait- I shot this ten years ago? Gadzooks- I shot this ten years ago! Thanks for pointing that out... I should think that Wikipedia is referring to the production loco's, the Class 55s, and counting the Prototype seperately. Number 15 Tulyar was the one moved around on a low loader. If you look when she's being moved near the end she doesn't have engines but AFAIK she is now nearing the end of an extensive overhaul to bring her back into main line condition. The other five that were moving with '22 Royal Scots Grey in charge were presumably in main line condition at the time or they wouldn't have been allowed on Network Rail athough that is not the case now. IIRC at least one of them was running on one engine. The prototype is out of action and has been since the '60s having been retired after a big electrical failure I think. Someone did donate four Deltic engines for preservation (they were bought from an American fire department that used them to drive pumps) on the condition that the first be used to restore the Prototype but that seems unlikely because of the damage that was never repaired and significant differences between her and the production loco's. The Deltic Preservation Society website has info' on all the preserved loco's: https://www.thedps.co.uk/ Edit: "refurring"?