Amtrak Cascades at Tukwila, WA Station

The Tukwila Station is just south of Seattle. The Amtrak Cascades runs primarily between Seattle and Portland, Oregon, but some runs go as far north as Vancouver, BC and as far south as Eugene, Oregon. This was a typical November day for the Pacific Northwest, but the temperature was a bit on the cool side in the low 40s. This video captured with the Flip Ultra camcorder. The audio is also from the Flip.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Amtrak
• trains
• Cascades
• rail
• railroad
• Tukwila
• Washington
• flip
• northwest
• seattle
• train

[joseruesga]

Es un Amtrak, con coches españoles TALGO.

Gran confort y basculación en curvas.

[northwestusa]

Gracias. Sí, los coches Talgo muy agradable.

[hotcore5312]

What is that hissing sound on the departure?

[northwestusa]

Hi, Thanks for watching and the interesting question. Don't know the answer, but I suspect it has something to do with the Talgo trains. I've heard this noise before on other Talgo trains, but never on the other types of Amtrak equipment. Maybe someone who knows will see this question and give us an answer.

[Mdpaulk]

Ok, first....There is almost always one powered unit and one dummy unit. As in this case, the powered unit was in front, with the dummy (storage) unit in the back. They both have controls, but the dummy is basically a remote control unit.

Secondly, the whistling sound that is heard in the video is of the spring/shock system between each car. The talgo is equipped with a unique suspension system that tilts each wheel set in a turn or dip to provide comfort to the passengers.

[Amtrak116]

@SeanicWind usually they have the NPCU on the north section of the train with the generator and first class cars, on the other end is the coaches and baggage car.

[northwestusa]

@SeanicWind Thanks for the interesting question. Actually, there isn't a front or back of this train. It has power on both ends. As for where the business cars are in the consist, I have no idea how Amtrak determines that. Maybe some of the other experts, like @skmexifry might chime in on this.

[emsanchezc]

emsanchezc Creo Que Se debe a la Falta de Respuesta a, baja Velocidad del Sistema de guiado

[skmexifry]

@jetwash999 Actually....the whistling noise is the leveling valves for the air suspension trying to compensate for the irregularities in the tracks. They keep the train level when it's not in a turn by releasing air out of the left or right towers. I'm an On-board tech on those trains, we get to listen to it all day!

[jetwash999]

@hotcore5312 The hissing sound is the path between each car basically expanding and contracting because all of the cars are conected and cant be uncoupled.

[GlobalRailfan]

@hotcore5312 The brakes did not fully release, therefore the sound is the wheels rubbing the brakes. Then the brakes release, and it stops.

[boxingame]

probably the vibration of the tracks....?