Another hobby of mine is collecting vinyl records (LPs). I recently learned that there were many recordings made near the end of Steam that were released on LP. I'm looking for recommendations of the best sounding ones that are out there.
If you have any recommendations, please leave a reply here.
Thank you.
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This is a good one, particularly if you’re a New York Central fan.
IMO, there were several great vinyl records produced by O Winston Link in the late 1950s entitled Sounds of Steam: Volumes 1-6. These were recordings of a variety of Norfolk and Western steam locomotives, mostly recorded in the Blue Ridge Mountains region of Virginia.
Here is a link to more info about these recordings including YouTube reproductions of the originals:
I had no idea that these existed either. I found some of the O Winston Link on YouTube. Very cool that they provide a little backstory for each of the sounds in the insert. Is the New York Central one done in the same style? I can't seem to find it.
Do a search for Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. This was the late Brad Miller’s company. He produced several albums of steam locomotive sounds, and they were by far the best quality recordings of that genre. They were also very professionally packaged with great photos on the disk jackets. There are some available now on ebay. And here’s another one,“Steam Railroading Under Thundering Skies.”
You can hear many examples of his fantastic audio work on the “Symphony of Steam” CD sold by the Fort Wayne RR Historical Society, owners of NKP 765. It’s not an LP, but it will show you the quality of his work.
I have a collection of 48 vinyl recordings (331/3LPs + 10"), all steam.
As Rich stated, the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs "modern era" steam recordings were the absolute best available, and still hold up to this day.
I find that the most impressive steam visuals and sounds are in Mike Armstrong's Steam Trains Galore series on YouTube.
John
Another vinyl to look for is a series of records from Howard Fogg. Many east and west steam recordings. Owl Records is the label name. Power of the past, All steamed up are a couple.
Not long (yet), but this is a very interesting thread nonetheless. I'm learning a lot from those chiming in. Makes me wonder if enthusiasts of other mechanical wonders (tugboats? aircraft? printing presses?) were as similarly driven as railroaders or railfans to capture the sounds of their favorite machines. Could you imagine an LP entitled "Big Blocks - Greatest Hits" or "Sounds of the Chicago Tribune"? All kidding aside, I do actually believe the ability to capture this aural ephemera to be just as worthy as efforts to preserve physical artifacts documenting the breathtaking pace of technological (and cultural) development since the advent of the industrial revolution. I wish we could have access to those sounds lost forever nearly as soon as they were made prior to Edison's brilliant achievements. Have to wait for time travel for that one, I suppose.
Somewhere in my basement is a 78 rpm recording of the Broadway Limited leaving Englewood. The station announcer states the train is going to Fort Wayne, Crestline, Pittsburgh, Altoona, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Newark, and New York. It is pulled by a K4s as you can tell by the distinctive chugging sound and the whistle. The recording was made from the cab of the locomotive.
The last K4s I saw close up was in 1952 leaving Baltimore going up the Northern Central. I was standing next to it as it departed. The very last ones I saw were in 1957 at the Newark engine terminal from passenger trains heading into / out of New York.
now that is cool...
Rich mentioned one and there is another that came out as a CD with a very similar name...Steel Rails Under Thundering Skys.
I can highly recommend this one as it is very nicely done.
Tom
Here is a British one. Sounds like one big Thomas episode.
There is "Whistles West"( E.P. Ripley), "Big Boy" and "All Steamed Up"(Howard Fogg). I would post some photos, but, I don't want to go to jail!
The O.W. Link recordings are great, however, the N&W set of recordings (cassette tape only) by Bud Swearer are my favorite by far!
My favorite is "A Royal Hudson" done in 1976. One side is from in the cab with all of the crew talk. The flipside is from the outside at various points along its run. Still available used on Ebay
Update…
I’ve picked up several of the Mobile Fidelity records. I’ve gotten through the first one, Twilight of Steam Volume 1 and all I can say is…
HOLY COW!
The quality of these recordings is amazing.
I have a number of steam LPs and some of them have been reproduced on CDs. Check out the Trolley Dodger for he has put many of Mobile Fidelity's records to CD. The Twillight of Steam series is good. HIGHBALL is really nice, narrated by Jim Ameche, who is actor Don Ameche's brother. Another that I like the best is the mexican steam,
2 -record set, this is incredible!
There are also some great CDs of DM&IR Yellowstones also a must!
Also Folkway Records still offers a few CDs from LPs; Sounds of Steam No. 1 is great, with opening sequence of an I.C. #1534 and her cool I.C. steamboat whistle.
I have about 29 assorted LPs and the CDs
I also have some of these in stock in the gift shop at Mid-Continent Ry. Museum
Hope this helps.
Here's a 45 I acquired. Never listen to it yet. Might give it a try tonight.
All pictures are mine.
Our Sound Effects Library at work obviously recorded their steam engine sfx at Strasburg. You can even hear the "ghost" whistle echo!
Jon 
If you have a surround-sound system capable of playing CDs with DTS (Digital Theater Surround), look for the Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs CDs titled "Sonic Booms". There are some truly amazing full surround recordings of steam locomotives on those albums.
@PRR8976 posted:Rich mentioned one and there is another that came out as a CD with a very similar name...Steel Rails Under Thundering Skys.
I can highly recommend this one as it is very nicely done.
Tom
"Steel Rails Under Thundering Skies" is a classic. One thing to know is that it is an "art piece" of sorts. The sounds of various locomotives are all actual recordings, as is the thunderstorm, but they were edited together to make a soundscape. He says this plainly in the notes. He's not attempting to fool anyone.
The same thing was done on "4449 Pinnacle". That one is a 2 disc set. Disc one is straight sounds recorded in the cab from Portland to Salem, OR on a fan trip. Disc two contains more edited cuts of 4449 "meeting" herself etc.
There are some fantasy cuts on "Sound of Trains Vol. 4" with 844 and 3985 doubleheading and meeting 3985 and 3985 doubleheading the other way, etc.
Mr. Miller's work was flawless from a technical standpoint, and I have everything he ever put out. The only drawback for me is that his work, apart from his very earliest albums, was during the age of excursion steam.
It's a matter of personal taste, but I prefer older recordings of steam in the everyday service it was designed for. The technical limitations of recording equipment of the era are what they are, but I'll take them warts and all.
@Nick Chillianis posted:It's a matter of personal taste, but I prefer older recordings of steam in the everyday service it was designed for. The technical limitations of recording equipment of the era are what they are, but I'll take them warts and all.
Nick, Do you have Link's "Time Freight"? How about "Riding N&W's Clinch Valley Local #5" or "Chasing the Pigeon Creek Shifter"?
Being partial to mid-west railroads, especially the CB&Q (Burlington) here are the ones I think are the best:
Howard Fogg, the infamous artist, did a recording of heavy C&S steam engine for an LP titled "All Steamed UP".
Then there is the Mobile Fidelity LP of CB&Q 5632, 5613 and 4960 titled "Sunday Only". This is my favorite.
Mobile Fidelity did several LP's that included CB&Q, UP, SP, IC, PM and many other railroads - I never get tired of listening to them.
The Railroad Record Club Hawkins Wisconsin did many steam records,
If you want GREAT whistle sounds with lots of exhaust effects from inside the cab, RALBAR produced many records but the best is "Burlington Route 5632".
RAY
I only have one steam album and it is great for those who like to hear a lot of whistling. It was made by Mobile Fidelity and is titled “Whistling Through Dixie.”
Here is an audio recording I did on it a month ago.
@Ray of sunshine posted:Being partial to mid-west railroads, especially the CB&Q (Burlington) here are the ones I think are the best:
Howard Fogg, the infamous artist, did a recording of heavy C&S steam engine for an LP titled "All Steamed UP".
Then there is the Mobile Fidelity LP of CB&Q 5632, 5613 and 4960 titled "Sunday Only". This is my favorite.
Mobile Fidelity did several LP's that included CB&Q, UP, SP, IC, PM and many other railroads - I never get tired of listening to them.
The Railroad Record Club Hawkins Wisconsin did many steam records,
If you want GREAT whistle sounds with lots of exhaust effects from inside the cab, RALBAR produced many records but the best is "Burlington Route 5632".
RAY
5632 was a great engine to hear but I don't have this recording.
@Trainmaster04 posted:I only have one steam album and it is great for those who like to hear a lot of whistling. It was made by Mobile Fidelity and is titled “Whistling Through Dixie.”
Here is an audio recording I did on it a month ago.
Yes that is another good album by MF, which I also have. Also please realize that some of these locomotives are still around, and some albums were more current, albums like this were from long ago; some of those engines are still around while others are not. So in my opinion don't turn up your nose on many of these recordings.
Figure of speech!
A memory:
When I was 9 or 10 my uncle was the first in the family to buy a high-end stereo system.
To demonstrate it he put on a record with steam engine sounds. I still remember the train crossing the room as the sound went from one speaker to the other!
Glorious!
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