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Page contents © D Swan 2006
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These recordings are intended primarily as a
supplement to the photographs on this site. However, I hope that some of them do stand as works in their own right.
The recordings should, in any case, provide a bit of audible atmosphere to go along with the photographs. I hope also,
that with practice, the quality will continue to improve! Happy listening.
Instructions
The sound files are arranged in chronological
order with a listing at the top of the page summarising all the recordings. It is then just a matter of scrolling down
the page to find the date of the recording in which you are interested. After a short description is a box containing
a summary of the recording including time and size of the file and a thumbnail of the action if available. I`ve tried
to keep the files at a manageable size for all users to avoid major downloads but the trade off is a slight loss in quality.
All files are in mp3 format sampled at 64kbs.
In the summary box is a large CLICK TO PLAY link.
Click the link to launch the track in your default media player (ie Windows Media Player (WMP), the track should load and
play. Do ensure that your media player is configured to play mp3 files. In WMP go Tools/Options/File Types and
tick mp3. If that fails you can right click on the CLICK TO PLAY link, this will bring up a standard Windows dialogue
where you can select 'Save Target As' (Internet Explorer), 'Save Link As' (Firefox). Selecting this option will bring
up another standard Windows 'Save As' box. You can then choose where you want to save the file; you can then download
the file and play it in your chosen media player whenever you like!
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Index of Sound Recordings 2006
14 January 2006 34067 Tangmere Brookwood Station
01 April 2006 48151 &5690 Leander Beaconsfield
and 'on board'.
29 April 2006 60009 Union of South Africa Woking Jct
& 'Surrey Hills'
07 June 2006 45231 The Sherwood Forester nr Shoreham,
Kent
24 June 2006 6024 King Edward I at Crofton, Wiltshire
09 July 2006 71000 Duke of Gloucester Winchfield Station
13 July 2006 45231 The Sherwood Forester Winchfield
Station (2 runs)
02 August 2006 71000 Duke of Gloucester Basingstoke
Station
07 October 2006 34067 Tangmere nr Frimley Green &
Micheldever Station (2runs)
11 October 2006 45231 The Sherwood Forester Salisbury
& The Test Valley (2 runs)
28 October 2006 34067 Tangmere Fleet Station
18 November 2006 4771 Green Arrow Arlesley
25 November 2006 71000 Duke of Gloucester Theale
05 December 2006 45231 The Sherwood Forester Salisbury
and Westbury
21 December 2006 71000 Duke of Gloucester Winchfield
14 January 2006
A thoroughly miserable lunchtime visit to Worting junction had
me hoping for a better trip to Brookwood Station for the return leg of this VSOE tour to Southampton E Docks. It had
eventually stopped raining for this booked stop, although Tangmere didn't take on any water. We hear plenty of whistle
as the loco gets underway and soon passes us. We can still hear the loco as the '66' passes on the rear of the train,
but then the service trains arrive and we lose 34067. Not a great recording but I hope adds to the photo.
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34067 Tangmere, Brookwood Station, 14 January 2006
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01 April 2006
On the centenary of Chiltern Railways, LMS locomotives 8F no 48151
and 5XP 'Jubilee' no 5690 Leander hauled a series of shuttles between High Wycombe and London Marylebone on April
1st and 2nd. Featuring 5690 and 48151 'top and tailing' this series of recordings has action from Beaconsfield on 1st
April and some 'on train' recordings from a journey along the route. On a day of blustery winds, heavy showers and crowded
platforms, conditions were challenging as usual, but I hope some of the atmosphere comes across.
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5690 Leander having climbed through the tunnels on
the 12:15 ex Marylebone continues its journey near Neasden on this on-train clip,
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5690, again on the 12:15 gets underway from Gerrards
Cross setting off alarms and exciting the crowd. The blustery conditions and train speed eventually get the better of
my woefully inadequate wind shield.
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Leaving Beaconsfield on the 15:15 ex Marylebone 5690
gets underway before the 8F appears to give it a shove. Unfortunately some onlookers seem oblivious to the delightful
sound of the distant train and just keep talking.
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48151 gets away from Beaconsfield on the 13.25 ex
High Wycombe. In our position at the far end of the car park this powerful loco goes thundering past as the sound echoes
around the cutting. Compare the sound of the 8F to Leander as the latter patters by at the rear of the train.
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On the last train of the day 48151 leads 5690 into
Beaconsfield with 16.25 ex High Wycombe.
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29 April 2006
A couple of recordings here as LNER A4 Class no 60009 Union
of South Africa takes on the Surrey Hills on this VSOE circular tour from London Victoria. The first track has 60009
heading through Woking Junction. We get plenty of whistle as the A4 winds itself up before passing under the bridge
where we are, heading for Worplesdon and Guildford. Lots of people at this location but you get the idea. Secondly,
following a Shalford water stop we join 60009 as it heads through the North Downs on the long climb towards Gomshall.
We are in 'light plane' land again as we hear a distant whistle, but the plane leaves as 60009 comes by. With the sound
carrying quite well we hear the loco for some time as it continues to climb towards Gomshall including another distant whistle towards
the end of the recording.
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60009 Union of South Africa, Woking Junction, 29 April
2006
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60009 Union of South Africa, nr Albury, 29 April 2006
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07 June 2006
A first visit to Kent for Fleet Steam mainly as a result
of several cancelled tours by Steam Dreams meaning not having seen any mainline action for some time. I found
a nice open location near Shoreham and 45231 The Sherwood Forester was fairly on time, perhaps 5 minutes late.
Although climbing just before passing us 45231 creeps up quietly and we hardly hear the feeble whistle as it approaches a
crossing. Sounding slightly muted the loco soon passes and we hear it heading away towards Otford for a moment.
This was a Cathedrals Express tour form London Victoria to Canterbury and return.
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45231 The Sherwood Forester nr Shoreham 07 June 2006
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24 June 2006
A lovely still and sunny morning in rural Wiltshire. We are
in the shade by the Kennet and Avon canal near to the Crofton Pumping Station. 6024 KEI is charging up the climb from
Bedwyn with this Steamy Affairs tour from Willesden to Bristol and return. What could possibly go wrong?....
Well sadly 6024 lets out a shrill whistle on top of the mic and
we lose the top end of the whistle, but there is still some noise to hear and a good impression of the power of this fine
locomotive. Sorry.
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6024 King Edward I at Crofton 24 June 2006
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09 July 2006
On the day of the World Cup Final a mad dash from Fleet to Winchfield
enables us to catch up with no 71000 Class 8P Duke of Gloucester. 71000 was at Winchfield for a water stop on the outward
leg of this Cathedrals Express tour from Clapham Junction to Exeter and return. We lose a bit on the whistle
before the loco sets off making a sprightly departure. This immensely powerful loco is fully capable of hauling this
train unaided but is getting some assistance from the Class 31 (31602) as can be clearly heard. We still pick up DofG
again before it is lost in the ambient noise.
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71000 Duke of Gloucester Winchfield 09 July 2006
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13 July 2006
A rare chance to catch some midweek daytime action as 45231 The
Sherwood Forester stops for water at Winchfield with this Cathedrals Express tour from London Victoria to Bristol
and return. Two tracks here, the first has 45231 departing Winchfield following its stop. Plenty of whistle, now
seemingly in full working order, and lots of power as the loco heads past us and away towards Hook. We hear the loco
for a short time before a through down express passes and 45231 is lost to the drone of the nearby M3.
Secondly, on a perfect summers evening, still at Winchfield, we
catch a brief moment of the 'Black 5' cruising along nicely as it heads back to London on the return leg.
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45231 The Sherwood Forester departs Winchfield
13 July 2006
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45231 The Sherwood Forester passes Winchfield
13 July 2006
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02 August 2006
From our position in the North Yard Car Park we can hear 71000 Duke
of Gloucester standing in Platform 4 at Basingstoke Station. The car park is an exposed location on a
wet and windy summer evening, and the breeze is evident as 71000 departs for Clapham Junction on the return leg of this Steam
Dreams, 'Sunny South Special' to Weymouth. At about 10.30pm and running nearly an hour late 71000 makes smooth
progress through the junction towards Hook. We can hear the locomotive getting up to speed for a short time after the
train has passed. By the way it's £4.60 to park if you ever go.
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71000 Duke of Gloucester departs Basingstoke 02 August
2006
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07 October 2006
Due to the main LSWR route between Woking and Subiton being closed
for engineering works, this VSOE tour to Southampton E Docks had run via Hounslow and Staines to rejoin the mainline
near Byfleet. The tour had originated at London Victoria. Two tracks to listen to beginning with the outward run.
A fine day at Frimley Green and some traffic and aircraft noise perhaps. Shortly Tangmere bursts
through the nearby Basingstoke Canal tunnel and charges past us on its way to Farnborough. Just a brief clip and a taste
for the return.
As dusk settles at Micheldever Station a quiet setting is disturbed
by the approaching clatter of a WC 4-6-2 in full flight. Nearing the top of a long steady climb 34067 thunders
past the microphone and onto Basingstoke and London Victoria. Having just missed a 'down' train this is a recording
without much extraneous noise, although there is the usual Class 67 on the rear of the train. As the recording
ends we perhaps get a hint of Tangmere again as it approaches the tunnels at Popham.
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34067 Tangmere, Frimley Green, 07 October 2006
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34067 Tangmere, Micheldever Station, 07 October
2006
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11 October 2006
Following
the run of 45231 to Minehead on 30 September, this Cathedrals Express tour ran from Minehead to Salisbury.
At Salisbury a Class 47 would take the tour back to Minehead with the 'Black 5' running 'light engine' to the Mid-Hants
Railway. The tour included a steam hauled loop from Salisbury via Romsey and Southampton. I happened to be free
in the afternoon and Steam Dreams confirmed there was space onboard for the loop for a reduced price. 45231
arrived at Platform 4, Salisbury, just a few minutes behind schedule and I managed to secure a window about four carriages
back from the loco. The first recording here is actually a compilation of four recordings identified by fades in the
recording. We hear 45231 get underway from Salisbury, then a trip through the city across junctions. Next,
having cleared the city, tunnel and junctions we head out on clear track as 45231 gets upto speed. Finally, the
loco gives a stirring performance as it climbs to Alderbury Junction. This track is 2.56Mb but has come out quite well.
The second track here is taken on the return leg, up the Test Valley,
just after passing Romsey. In this (all to) brief clip nr Dunbridge, 45231 heads up towards Alderbury again.
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45231 The Sherwood Forester Salisbury
11 October 2006
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45231 The Sherwood Forester Test Valley
11 October 2006
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28 October 2006
Another short burst of 34067 'thrash' as the 'Bullied' thunders
across the Pond at Fleet and through the station. Tangmere was heading a VSOE tour to Westbury and Bristol
from London Victoria. 34067 was running about 40 minutes late at this point.
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34067 Tangmere, Fleet Station, 28 October 2006
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18 November 2006
With the imminent withdrawal of 4771 Green Arrow from
mainline duties for the forseeable future I felt I had to get out and see this NRM (National Railway Museum) 'London Lights'
tour from York to Kings Cross. So a fair trip from Hampshire finds us at Arlesey, Bedfordshire for the run south.
A quick look for a location finds us a short way south of the station waiting for 4771. Green Arrow arrives
some 30 minutes late due to missing its path at Peterborough and poor coal means the loco is being assisted by a Class
33. The '33' is very evident in this recording with 4771 barely discernable at the head of the train. I've included
this recording purely as a historical note (and perhaps for diesel fans).
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4771 Green Arrow, Arlesley, 18 November
2006
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25 November 2006
The outward leg of this Cathedrals Express tour from
London Victoria to Bristol and return found us in a thunderstorm west of Reading. With 71000 off the power following
a service train I just had a recording of thunder. I was more hopeful for the return leg with 71000 getting away from
a water stop at Theale. 71000 arrived at Theale some two hours down due to brake failure on the Class 31 at the rear
of the train. A further delay was caused when the fire tender had to go for more water to replenish D of G. In
danger of losing its route back to Victoria due line closures at around 22.00, 71000 eventually gets underway some 2 1/4 hours
down at around 9.15pm, on what is by now a clear and cold evening. First we hear a car buzzing past on the wet road
before 71000 whistles its departure some half mile west of our location. Soon we hear another car speed by, this time
carrying an enthusiast rushing to take up his position. 71000 picks up speed but slips as it comes by, with I believe,
coal pusher in operation. The loco continues its run towards Reading passing under the M4 before we hear a final whistle
in the distance in this dramatic recording. The tour was eventually terminated at Staines before returning with the
ECS to Alton at around midnight.
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71000 Duke of Gloucester nr Theale 25 November 2006
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05 December 2006
With gale force winds sweeping the UK and just a bit of old cushion
cover to wrap around my microphone I didn't hold out much hope for some mainline action behind 45231 The Sherwood
Forester. This was a Cathedrals Express tour that should have run from London Victoria to Bristol
and return. However, due to engineering work the trip only ran as far as Westbury. At Westbury the loco would
return to Salisbury tender first, climbing to Upton Scudamore. 45231 would then take the tour back to Westbury again
before returning to London via Salisbury. We join the trip on the first run from Salisbury to Westbury. 45231
has assistance available from Class 73 Diesel no. 73107 running 'inside' (behind) 45231 to Westbury and banking at the rear
of train on the return to Salisbury. The first track has the departure from Salisbury, a slight slip but soon underway.
Secondly, getting upto speed on the climb to Wilton. The third track here includes a big slip from 45231 near Wilton.
We lose the loco as the track fades but the edit fades in again, very windswept now, but showing everything is okay, about
a minute after the slip, with 45231 working hard heading for Upton Scudamore and Westbury.
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45231 The Sherwood Forester departs Salisbury
05 December 2006
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45231 The Sherwood Forester West of Salisbury
05 December 2006
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45231 The Sherwood Forester nr Wilton
05 December 2006
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Next we join the trip on the first run back to Salisbury, attacking
the Upton Scudamore climb, tender first, with little or no help from banking loco 73107. We're just one coach back from
45231 here. The climb is divided into two tracks, the first has 45231 departing Westbury and getting upto speed.
The second track has 45231 making good progress right to the top of climb hauling about 10 coaches with perhaps the '73' pulling
its own weight. About halfway through the track a service train rushes past heading downhill towards Westbury.
At the top of the climb the loco is heard speeding up on the easier grade and lets out a short whistle. Considering
the conditions, which certainly do nothing to enhance this rather windswept recording, this is a reasonable record of 45231
on this climb.
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45231 The Sherwood Forester departs Westbury
05 December 2006
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45231 The Sherwood Forester nr Upton Scudamore
05 December 2006
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21 December 2006
In freezing temperatures and dense fog 71000 Duke of Gloucester
called at Winchfield for water on the return leg of this Cathedrals Express tour from London Victoria to
Winchester and Eastleigh. The loco was running about 25 minutes late and sandwiched between two service trains.
The support crew worked like trojans in poor conditions and did a fantastic job in 'turning' the loco around. We are
just beyond of the 'up' platfrom as the tender pump shuts off and crew call 'that's it'. After a short edit about a
minute we hear 71000 whistle (with slight distortion again) before making an effortless departure towards Fleet. We
hear the loco for a short time as the tender crew pack up their gear. A good finish to 2006.
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71000 Duke of Gloucester Winchfield
21 December 2006
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