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Sound 2005

Page contents ©  D Swan 2005

Introduction
 

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!

Index of Sound Recordings 2005
 
 

19 March 2005  3440 City of Truro  West Somerset Railway
23 April 2005  5051 Earl Bathurst  nr Theale, Berkshire
11 May 2005  34027 Taw Valley  Winchfield Station, Hampshire
09 June 2005  6024 King Edward I  nr Aldermaston Wharf, Berkshire
09 June 2005  34067 Tangmere  Chilworth, Surrey
18 June 2005  34067 Tangmere  Winchfield Station, Hampshire
02 July 2005  71000 Duke of Gloucester  Aldershot Station, Hampshire
09 July 2005  71000 Duke of Gloucester  nr Pirbright Junction, Surrey
09 July 2005  71000 Duke of Gloucester  Fleet Station, Hampshire
20 July 2005  71000 Duke of Gloucester  Fleet Station, Hampshire
24 August 2005  5029 Nunney Castle  nr Theale, Berkshire
01 October 2005  34067 Tangmere  Fleet Station, Hampshire
08 October 2005  34067 Tangmere  Winchfield Station, Hampshire
12 October 2005  45231 The Sherwood Forester  Brookwood Station, Surrey
22 October 2005  60009 Union of South Africa  Bentley Station, Surrey
06 November 2005  60009 Union of South Africa  Winchfield Station, Hampshire
26 November 2005  45231 The Sherwood Forester  Hook Station, Hampshire
26 November 2005  45231 The Sherwood Forester  Fleet Station, Hampshire
10 December 2005   45231 The Sherwood Forester  Alton Station, Hampshire
10 December 2005   45231 The Sherwood Forester  nr Egham, Surrey
13 December 2005   45231 The Sherwood Forester  Potbridge, Hampshire
17 December 2005  34067 Tangmere  nr Chilworth, Surrey
 

19 March 2005
On a lovely Spring day at the West Somerset Railway no 3440 City of Truro gets underway from Crowcombe Heathfield.  The locomotive was visiting the railway as part of the Spring Steam Gala event and this train is the much delayed 11:40 service from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead.  Although not on the main line, I've included this track due to a distinct lack of main line action in North East Hampshire in the early part of this year.

1min 19sec
641kb

3440 City of Truro WSR 19 March 2005

23 April 2005
On a damp, grey, April morning Earl Bathurst can be heard approaching from Reading heading towards Newbury.  5051 is running ECS (Empty Carriage Stock) at this point, before taking a private charter to Bristol.  5051 is working well here on the gentle climb towards Newbury.  The recording is somewhat marred by a service train on the up line shortly before 5051 passes by.

1min 35sec
761kb

5051 Earl Bathurst nr Theale 23 April 2005

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11 May 2005
On a fine but cool evening Taw Valley departs from Winchfield Station after a water stop.  On the end of the train is a Diesel but it is quite difficult to hear.  As 34027 gets going a service train passes heading towards Basingstoke before we hear Taw Valley again heading towards Fleet on its way to Waterloo.  34027 had been on a Cathedrals Express tour to Littlehampton and Portsmouth Harbour.

1min 55sec
920kb

34027 Taw Valley departs Winchfield Station 11 May 2005

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09 June 2005
On a fine sunny morning King Edward 1 can be heard sounding its whistle in the distance above the traffic noise from the A4 and a light aircraft overhead.  These sounds are pushed into the distance though as 6024 rattles past on its way to Bristol with a Cathedrals Express tour.

1min 19sec
626kb

6024 King Edward I nr Aldermaston Wharf 09 June 2005

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09 June 2005
A fine Spring day had turned decidedly cloudy by the time Tangmere arrived at Chilworth following a water stop at Shalford.  Running some 30 minutes late at this point, 34067 made some good noise as it climbed the 1/100 gradient 'blowing off' as it passes.

1min 34sec
744kb

34067 Tangmere Chilworth 09 June 2005

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18 June 2005
Following a water stop at Winchfield Station we join Tangmere just as she gets underway from our position out in the car park.  With cylinder cocks open to start, 34067 then has a small slip.  A service train passes, sounds its horn and is acknowledged by Tangmere before the loco continues its journey to Weymouth on this Kingfisher railtour.  As usual a moderate crowd was present to see Tangmere and you can still hear the locomotive as everyone else just heads for home.  There is the usual Diesel on the rear of the train.

3min 19sec
1.5MB

34067 Tangmere departs Winchfield Station 18 June 2005

02 July 2005
Early morning on a dull but still Summer's Saturday at Aldershot Station and 71000 Duke of Gloucester stands in Platform 1 with this Cathedrals Express tour to Stratford.  Our position right next to loco gives us some good sound before the 'right away' and 71000 surges forward.  We hear the train heading off for a short distance before the recording stops as the DofG enters the tunnel under Redan Hill.

1min 50sec
864kb

71000 Duke of Gloucester Aldershot 02 July 2005

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09 July 2005
These two short clips of 71000 Duke of Gloucester are from the first Sunny South Special of the year run by Steam Dreams to Weymouth.  The first is on the outward trip to Weymouth taken at just beyond Pirbright Junction.  A rather confined location on another dull but still day has DofG rushing past amid sounds emanating from the nearby army training centre.  The next clip is taken as night falls at Fleet Station on the return leg.  This unique locomotive again creeps up almost unnoticed before storming through the station having just set off from a water stop at nearby Winchfield.

0min 59sec
465kb

71000 Duke of Gloucester Pibright Junction 09 July 2005

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1min 05sec
512kb

71000 Duke of Gloucester Fleet Station 09 July 2005
 

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20 July 2005
A fine Summers evening at Fleet Station, but sadly 71000 Duke of Gloucester is confined to the slow line between all the stopping services.  We hear 71000 approaching in the distance and as it enters the station a through up service overtakes.  DofG then limps past the mic on its way to Farnborough and London Victoria on the return leg of this Cathedrals Express tour to Bristol.

1min 31sec
718kb

71000 Duke of Gloucester Fleet Station 20 July 2005

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24 August 2005
In fading light 5029 Nunney Castle has just departed Theale UGL having stopped for water.  This recording is taken from the Business Park located about 1/2 mile from the station at Theale and is unusually fairly uninterupted by extraneous sound effects.  5029 puts on a good show as it gathers speed heading for Reading and London Victoria although the tour is running about one hour late at this point.

2min 05sec
982kb

5029 Nunney Castle nr Theale Station 24 August 2005

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01 October 2005
34067 Tangmere heads across Fleet Pond with this Kingfisher tour.  34067 is on the up slow following a service train but appears to be accelerating as it passes although that may just be me.  Just after passing the 'usual' service train overtakes Tangmere which was running to time at this point.  However, the relatively slow speed of 34067 means we get to hear the locomotive quite well.  There is a Diesel on the back too. 

1min 35sec
745kb

34067 Tangmere Fleet Station 01 October 2005

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08 October 2005
Hauling more than 600 tons and in atrocious conditions Tangmere departs Winchfield Station with this VSOE tour returning to London Victoria following a trip to Southampton Docks.  I was going to edit this recording down to remove the moment Tangmere gets underway as with cylinders blasting and my feeble microphone almost next to them there is some distortion.  However, the impression of power would be lost.  So here it is with all the power and noise but some distortion too!  There is the smooth sound of 67004 at the rear and we can hear 34067 peddling off towards Fleet for a brief moment.

2min 11sec
1.05MB

34067 Tangmere departs Winchfield Station 08 October 2005

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12 October 2005
A thoroughly wet and miserable day in Surrey relented for a few minutes at around 8pm which coincided with a water stop for 'Black 5' no 45231 The Sherwood Forester at Brookwood Station.  45231 was on a Cathedrals Express tour returning to London Victoria following a visit to Bath and Bristol.  After taking a few 'snaps' on the platform I headed down to the car park next to the up slow line to record this clip.  We hear 45231 set off from the station some 100 yards away and soon passes us.  No diesel on the rear as we hear the loco heading off towards Woking on this good quality recording (for me).

1min 59sec
937kb

45231 The Sherwood Forester departs Brookwood Station 12 October 2005

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22 October 2005
It's dark and very late on a Saturday night at Bentley Station.  LNER Class A4 no 60009 Union of South Africa has just arrived and is nearly at the end of a long day out to Stratford on this Cathedrals Express tour.  First we can hear the crew impatient for the 'right away', seeking clearance on their radio.  A brief burst of A4 whistle and the loco heads off effortlessly towards Alton.  We can hear the loco for sometime before the recording ends.

2min 24sec
1.10MB

60009 Union of South Africa  Bentley Station  22 October 2005

06 November 2005
In pouring rain the A4 makes a sure footed restart after a water stop at Winchfield Station.  60009 whistles and moves away from under the canopy on the down 'from London' platform.  The loco soon passes us, sheltering underneath an umbrella at the end of the platform.  Attached (at the station, had been following behind), to the rear is Class 33 no33202 making some noise (assisting?) too.  We lose 60009 for a time before the distant sound of the A4 returns then fades leaving just the sound of the rain.

2min 35sec
1.19MB

60009 Union of South Africa  Winchfield Station  06 November 2005

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26 November 2005
Two recordings here.  Firstly on a bright autumn Saturday at Hook Station for 'Black 5' no 45231 The Sherwood Forester hauling a Cathedrals Express tour from London Victoria to Bristol and return.  We are on the down 'from London' platform as we hear the two cylinder rhythm of the 'Black 5' approaching.  As the loco thunders past us on the 'down slow' just a few feet away and through the station, we have a brief moment of distortion.  The loco continues its journey but the sound is generally lost in the ambient noise but there is no diesel on the rear.
Secondly, we hear the '5' on the return leg at Fleet.  It's an icy but quiet evening as 45231 is heard approaching.  We are on the 'down' platform and the loco is on the 'up slow' line, right on schedule at 8.44pm and following a service train before a water stop at Brookwood.  No distortion this time as 45231 passes and is heard a short distance after the station, crossing the Pond, before a service train passes.  Listen carefully as the '5' passes as there does appear to be some kind of fault with the whistle.

1min 15sec
591kb

45231 The Sherwood Forester  Hook Station  26 November 2005

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2min 05sec
979kb

45231 The Sherwood Forester  Fleet Station  26 November 2005

 

10 December 2005
Two recordings here of this Cathedrals Express tour from Alton to Stratford upon Avon.  First up is 45231 departing from Alton at the start of the trip.  The loco has just pulled right through the platform after coming onto the mainline from the Mid-Hants line and is simmering in total darkness awaiting its 6.53am departure.  We soon hear 45231 getting underway on time, although the generator car halfway along the stock is rather intrusive.  No diesel attached to the rear as we hear the loco turning on the power and accelerating out into the countryside towards Bentley.
The second clip is taken just outside Egham some 90 minutes into this trip.  45231 has been delayed about 25 minutes near Aldershot and we hear the 'Forester' in the distance just before it triggers the nearby level crossing.  The warning siren is soon drowned out by the 'Black 5' as it hurries past but the loco is not heard again after the crossing.  As on the 26 November recording of this loco we hear the odd effect coming from the 5's whistle.

3min 20sec
1.53MB

45231 The Sherwood Forester departs Alton 10 December 2005

 
1min 55sec
902kb

45231 The Sherwood Forester nr Egham 10 December 2005

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13 December 2005
A bright and still but cold December day finds us at Potbridge near Winchfield in a good photo location but fairly poor for sound.  Anyway, 'Black 5' no 45231 The Sherwood Forester has just left Winchfield following a water stop on this Cathedrals Express tour from London Waterloo to Salisbury.  Although we hear well the approaching loco it is lost as it passes under the bridge and only by listening very carefully can we make out the slightest sound from the '5' after all the coaches have gone past.  Just a recording to supplement the picture really but I think worth including. 

1min 16sec
596kb

45231 The Sherwood Forester passing Potbridge 13 December 2005

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17 December 2005
I'd found what I thought was a nice quiet rural location for this recording of Tangmere on a VSOE circular tour from London Victoria.  However, I suffered the scourge of the sound recordist, the light aircraft.  Nevertheless, we get to hear 34067 heading up from Chilworth as the aircraft fades away, although we lose the sound of the loco as it passes bar a quick blast on the whistle. 

1min 29sec
699kb

34067 Tangmere nr Chilworth 17 December 2005

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All recordings © Copyright D Swan 2005