Unusual ways to change gear, cont'd

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse) 10/23/2016 at 16:15 • Filed to: ZF, Ecomat, Class 172

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This is a ZF Ecomat automatic gearbox. It was (it’s been replaced by a newer model) one of the two automatic transmissions that equip most city buses (the other is by Voith and worth a post in itself). There’s nothing unusual about it and it’s just like the one you’d have in your car, if you’re an American, or probably wouldn’t, if you’re one of the rest of us, but much bigger.

This is a Class 172 train. It’s used on several commuter routes in Britain and is one of those trains which have an engine under each carriage. There’s nothing unusual about it. This particular one runs in London, but not for much longer as the route has become so crowded it’s going to be electrified and equipped with bigger and electric rolling stock.

What’s unusual is that the two are combined. The Class 172 has two or three Ecomats sitting under it. This gives to the unusual experience of a train that sounds and feels like a bus as it works its way up and down the box with noticeable gearchange noises.

You want to know what it sounds like? Somebody has thought about you and made a video.

What’s strange is not just that a video has been made of a suburban train journey but there are several others, some of which have had thousands of views.

bhtooefr > Cé hé sin 10/23/2016 at 16:22

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There’s also tons of city bus journeys on YouTube, too. Transit fans don’t fuck around. (Also, the Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board’s wiki is a fantastic resource for bus and some rail stuff: https://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php/Main_Page )

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Cé hé sin 10/23/2016 at 16:32

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They had ones that were even closer to buses on rails on the Tyne Valley Line in the U.K., too. It made these look like trains.

If I wasn’t mistaken, the last time I was on them, they still had manual transmissions...

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Cé hé sin 10/23/2016 at 16:34

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I miss this distinctive gearbox sound of those old buses, too bad my city has sold or junked most of them.

Cé hé sin > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 10/23/2016 at 16:44

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According to Mr Google, things like this:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

When first built they had Leyland engines and semi automatic boxes, just like buses of the day. Both had to be replaced as they were unreliable (surprise, surprise!

Cé hé sin > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 10/23/2016 at 16:46

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They were probably the Voith units then. According to Herr Google they whine.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Cé hé sin 10/23/2016 at 18:56

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Is that some Pacer variant?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacer_(train)

I remember the shifting being pretty entertaining. It was clearly not diesel-electric or a traditional hydraulic transmission.

Mind you, this was almost a decade ago and it was the only rolling stock they had that didn’t meet up flat with a platform (except on the Tube). It seemed so archaic.

Cé hé sin > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 10/23/2016 at 18:59

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Yes, I found it on Wiki. It’s a Class 141.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Cé hé sin 10/24/2016 at 10:16

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Those lazy shifts and that whine are some of the most memorable sounds of my childhood.