Only ever went behind D200 on the mainline but having experienced a few noisy runs in preservation I must admit they do sound fantastic. As far as Peaks go I've had some that are quieter than 47s and some that seemed louder. I wondered if this was something to do with the condition of the silencers, ie whether the baffle plates were rusted through or not?
I suppose on the forum though there are quite a few younger members that didn't experience locos on the mainline that the older members experienced in day to day service being worked hard on a proper train.[/QUOTE
I'll have to admit I've never heard a preserved Peak running, either on the mainline or a heritage line, my memories are purely from BR days and witnessing them at locations such as Manchester Piccadilly, York, Derby, Bristol etc. to me the 47 always seemed tame by comparison, although I think perhaps the huge louvred side panels on the Peaks perhaps played their part in this increased noise level as a 47 with its solid bodysides all the engine cacophony was routed out of its roof vents.
I must agree with you about younger members on here, if they could only have witnessed 40s, 50s, 52s etc. in BR days there would be some rather different popularity ratings above, hell even the small Sulzers (24/25/26/27s) used to make a heck of a sound when really under load, I can still visualise them passing by here at night with a 2/3ft jet of flame blasting out of the roof exhaust port!