A rail maintenance train bound for the Pilbara carried a diesel generator on the back of its caboose. The crew working around it were exposed to constant engine noise on every shift.
The problem
The generator was very noisy for the workers around the machine. Swapping it for a factory-made silent generator wasn’t an option: one wouldn’t fit in the space available.
What we did
We did the work in the factory, before the train was sent out to the Pilbara, while the generator was still on the ground and easy to reach.
- We lined every internal surface we could reach with high-density polyester acoustic absorption.
- The lining absorbs reverberation and damps vibration inside the generator housing, so far less noise escapes.
The result
The generator is significantly quieter for the team working outside it, without replacing the generator or changing the train.
Tip from Nigel: when a quieter machine won’t fit, treat the one you’ve got. Dense absorption inside the housing can make a real difference, and it’s far easier to do before the equipment ships out.
