Diesel Sound and Smoke

[J3a-614]

Some locomotive starting sequences from YouTube.

EMD E-unit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNR8dYze ... re=related

Alco:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zAi7wIgvrk&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do9CNax0 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXx9Y2zc ... re=related

Baldwin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZC-BUSz ... re=related

Fairbanks-Morse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExEYewvs ... re=related

These next ones are British diesels in preservation. What stands out is how hard starting (and smokey!) these units are, especially when compared to the American units shown above.  Apparently at least part of this is due to cold engines in cold weather, with cold fuel, at least according to some diesel men at Railway Preservation News.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CG91fYHc ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpQivta ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv_cGG56 ... re=related

These units give you the impression a steam locomotive would be easier to "start," and certainly simpler--all you need is a dry match. . .and several hours to raise steam. . .

Enjoy.