this post was submitted on 09 May 2024
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UK Rail and Trains
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I can't answer that question for that specific vehicle but as an F1 fan (or of its technical aspects rather) I can confirm that this is a thing. Engines built with such low tolerances that the pistons are completely stuck below operating temperature. Formula 1 cars have their oil warmed up and circulated from outside before a start can even be attempted without destroying the engine.
I asked ChatGPT and it seems to be giving a typically vague answer of listing multiple possible reasons like (as you guessed) taking a while to reach operating temperature, shoddy maintenance aka worn out parts affecting the procedure and the procedure itself possibly requiring certain "safety protocols" which need to be followed. Not sure if the latter is or has been a thing with such old locomotives but the other 2 sound plausible to me.
Yeah I follow F1 which is what I used to guess that the engine isn't warmed up enough. But the difference is that an F1 engine is warmed up then started, where as this engine is starting from cold.
What I find confusing though is that it sounds like one or two cylinders are working, albeit slowly, but not the rest. I'd have thought if one or two could work, they all could. Not unless they all are working but has to turn at a really low rpm to prevent damaging the engine.
Someone in the youtube comments said so about an old diesel sounding like crap when only 2 out of 16 are firing. Must be something to it then. Maybe they can set it up so that its always a different 2 cylinders that do the heavy lifting (to even out the wear) while the others just sit there generating heat through friction. These engines must be massive and you can't exactly roll them into a garage to loop the oil every time you need to start them up.