Alarm on a dash 8

[Csxgp38-2]

So, last week I happened to catch a four unit lash up, GP40-2, Road slug, ES44DC, and a Dash 8 leading. As the train passed, an alarm randomly sounded on the Dash 8. What could this be?

[shicoe30]

Hmmm, perhaps they were shutting the unit down?

I've heard beeping noises just before a unit was shut down on both parked and (barely) moving trains.

[Csxgp38-2]

Nope, all 3 operating units were pulling a southbound freight. The road slug was the only thing without a running engine, due to it not having one. Plus, this was in Apex, the highest point on the old line from VA to FL, so the locomotives are usually all online. The spot I railfan at, I can see the track slope down on either side of me. Gradual, but not when you have 30 cars (mostly hoppers) behind you!

[shicoe30]

hmmph, then I got nothin!

[Chessie8638]

Only thing I can think of is they are shutting down or re-firing the locomotive (unless the alerter is super loud, lol):

Did it sound like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHZiYVGr5S0

Or this: (at :17sec) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUai9NWnIbg

But if all the units were online like you said, then I got nothing.

[Csxgp38-2]

Only thing I can think of is they are shutting down or re-firing the locomotive (unless the alerter is super loud, lol):

Did it sound like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHZiYVGr5S0

Or this: (at :17sec) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUai9NWnIbg

But if all the units were online like you said, then I got nothing.

Nope, none of those sounds. This was a kind of electronic woop-woop alarm sound. Maybe it was part of the alerter? It wasn't a ringing sound though, more of an electronic alarm.

[Chessie8638]

Nope, none of those sounds. This was a kind of electronic woop-woop alarm sound. Maybe it was part of the alerter? It wasn't a ringing sound though, more of an electronic alarm.

Ohhh. I know what you're talking about. It's the air compressor starting, GE's are famous for it. Happens to be one of my favorite sounds a locomotive can make (besides the "whine" of GE's idling at speed).

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/r ... ?1,2445036

Video of mine showing this on a Amtrak P42DC (listen at 12:46): http://youtu.be/MD4dUMuJeTQ?t=12m25s

[Csxgp38-2]

Hmmm very odd, I heard the locomotive make that noise, but this was more of an alarm, like that noise repeated several times continuously, as the train passed me twice. I'll try to upload the video I got, it was picking up cars from the storage track and heading off southbound, then northbound.

[buzz456]

It was the engineer's I phone going off.

Buzz

[Csxgp38-2]

It was the engineer's I phone going off.

Buzz

Nice one!! The video is uploading, It's around 50% now, I'll put it here when it finishes. I watched the video again, and it's actually kind of a wee-oo-wee-ooo-weep sound, almost like a siren of sorts... Any more ideas, anyone?

[Samwolf]

"wee-oo-wee-ooo-weep"

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight!

[Csxgp38-2]

Here is the video, the sound can be heard right after the locomotive passes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABZQVPR2 ... ideo_title

[Hawk]

"wee-oo-wee-ooo-weep"

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight!

That should be Wimoweh, or - at the beginning - Ee-e-e-um-um-a-weh.

[arizonachris]

Dude, LOL, it's a car alarm in the back ground going off!

[Csxgp38-2]

Dude, LOL, it's a car alarm in the back ground going off!

I thought that at first, but when the train passed several minutes later after switching, the sound went off again, right when the locomotive passed!