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Sound Recordings

This valuable resource comprises audio recordings of the railways, made on the lineside, in stations or on locomotive footplates in a range of formats from gramophone records to digital recordings. It also includes the National Archive of Railway Oral History.

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10-inch, 78 rpm EP disc 'O praise the Lord with one Consent'

12-inch, 78 rpm EP disc 'Overture 'Ruy Blas''

12-inch, 78 rpm EP disc 'Ah! Fors e lui'

Audio cassette, recording of locomotives operating on the last day before the closure of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway line

1966-03-05

Audio cassette, 'Alf's Teeth' produced for British Rail Red Star parcels services

1985-11

Original sound recording 'Steam north of the River 1A'

1960-1970

Original sound recordings of steam trains recorded by John Burnie

1960-1970

12-inch, 78 rpm EP disc 'Songs of the Sea'

12-inch, 78 rpm EP disc 'Address to the Woodlark'

Cassette tape, magnetic tape in plastic casing with plastic box and card insert, 'The Farewell Party', comedy starring John Wells, written and produced by Infomericals for British Rail Red Star parcels services. Summarised "After thirty years of service to Plotkins, the trusty old despatch manager is retiring. Unfortunately, when the vino flows, so does the veritas." Recorded before a live audience on 22 Nov. 1985.

Audio cassette, 'The Farewell Party' produced for British Rail Red Star parcels services

1985-11
Cassette tape, magnetic tape in plastic casing with plastic box and card insert, 'Hancock's Parcel Service', comedy starring Trevor Bannister as Tony Hancock, written and produced by Infomericals for British Rail Red Star parcels services. Summarised "Anthony Aloysius Hancock has set himself up in opposition to Red Star. Unfortunately his trained carrier pigeons have ideas above their station." Recorded before a live audience on 22 Nov. 1985.

Audio cassette, 'Hancock's Parcel Service' produced for British Rail Red Star parcels services

1985-11
Audio cassette ‘Eavesdrop on 600 years of Highland History: The life and legend of the West Highland Line’ produced by ScotRail Advertising, made and released around 2000. It is an audio compilation recounting the history of the West Highland Line, between Glasgow and Mallaig, using spoken words, sound effects and songs.

Audio cassette 'Eavesdrop on 600 years of Highland History' by ScotRail

1997-2004
One 10 inch and one 12 inch lacquer discs (aka acetate discs), recordings by The MSS Recording Co. Ltd, of broadcast performance by the London & North Eastern Railway Musical Society at the Royal Hall, Harrogate, on 15th March 1936. The LNER Male Voice Choir performing "All The April Evening" (Robertson) and "Linden Lea" on the 10 inch disc, and "Address to the Woodlark" (Wm. Jackson - arrangement by Leslie Woodgate) on the 12 inch lacquer disc

Gramophone records, LNER Musical Society, Male Voice Choir

1936-03-15
Handwritten on case: Uganda railways / Handwritten on leader: Uganda, train, [Dybeck]

Magnetic audio tape 1/4" (acetate base) 'Uganda railways'

1958-1964
BBC Recording service label, nothing written on the label

Magnetic audio tape 1/4" '?'

1958-1963
Envelope containing correspondences and notes regarding sound recording of Uganda railway, addressed to John Adams, letter from Maurice Dybeck, 15/09/1962, sending tapes and tracks information of sound recording (and filming) made in Uganda, as John Adams may be looking into using it for Railway Roundabout ([Roundup] in notes)

Correspondences 'Uganda'

1962
BBC Recording service label, Ref. No. KLO 67880, 1 ; Wats rewind ; Take 1: Train leaving Volos ; Take 2: Enroute to Milee / Location: Greece

Magnetic audio tape 1/4" 'Train leaving Volos, enroute to Milee'

1958-1964
BBC Recording service label, Ref. No. KLO 62880, Reel No. 3 ; Take 1: H'Chief game at Milee station ; Take 2: Train leaving Milee station (3.15 pm) ; Take 3: For Volos crossing bridge (students singing) ; Take 5: Sounds in streets of Volos ; Take 6: A. Fish market, B. Street behind harbour, horses and larts crossing railway line in street / Note: this could correspond to sound recordings of Pelion railway, a Greek railway connection the city of Volos with the town of Mileai in Greece (AB, 21/11/2016) / Location: Greece

Magnetic audio tape 1/4" 'H'chief game at Milee station, etc.'

1958-1964
various Scotsman brochures including one with 7” record. Papers of Brian Hastings, 1960s. Brian Hastings was former publicity officer for Flying Scotsman Enterprises and the 4472 Club, and a railtour organiser.

Papers of Brian Hastings

1960s
Album of Thomas the Tank Engine stories narrated by Reverend W. Awdry published in 1957 as C.1000-1001 by Chiltern Records, also listed as part of Transacord Limited's 7 inch 33 1/3 rpm records. This is tape 1, digital master tape of original magnetic tapes made for C.1000-1001, this digital master was likely made between 1987-2000. Tape 1: 1. Tone, 2. Thomas and the trucks, 3. Thomas and the breakdown train, 4. Correction (Thomas and Gordon), 5. Correction (One day Thomas was resting in a siding), 6. Correction (Thomas ran to get trucks), 7. Correction (start of Thomas and the trucks), 8.(Correction (Trucks are silly and noisy), 9. Correction (Trucks pushing Thomas), 10. Edward's day out then Edward & Gordon (from 7 1/2 ips tape), 11. Sad storm of Henry (7 1/2 ips), 12. Edward, Gordon & Henry (7 1/2 ips), 13. Edward's day out T.2 (7 1/2 ips) Corrections (Edward & Gordon PTO), 14. Thomas & Gordon (7 1/2 ips), 15. Thomas's trains (7 1/2 ips)

Published sound recording - Edward's Day Out and Edward & Gordon

1957
Recording with no reference number, likely recording of sound effects for album of Thomas the Tank Engine stories narrated by Reverend W. Awdry published in 1957 as C.1000-1001 by Chiltern Records. Note enclosed with recording: Thomas the tank engine Fx ; Fx, 207 tape ; Caley 0-6-0 move past whistle, Caley 0-4-4T, Caley 4-4-0, etc., Diesel hooter, Diesel shunter, etc. …

Published sound recording - Edward's Day Out and Edward & Gordon

1957
Album of Thomas the Tank Engine stories narrated by Reverend W. Awdry published in 1957 as C.1000-1001 by Chiltern Records, also listed as part of Transacord Limited's 7 inch 33 1/3 rpm records. This is tape 3, digital master tape of original magnetic tapes made for C.1000-1001, this digital master was likely made between 1987-2000. Tape 3: 1. Line up 1 KHz…, 2. Edward's day out and Edward & Gordin, 3. Edward's day out T.2, 4. Edward & Gordon T.2, Rev. Awdry recorded in January 1957 at Emneth Vicarage, + Edward's day out and Edward & Gordon, from Railway stories read by Rev. W. Awdry, recorded in 1959, For Chiltern Records, 33 1/3 rpm, EP, T.1 and T. 2, track 2, 3 and 4

Published sound recording - Edward's Day Out and Edward & Gordon

1957
Album of Thomas the Tank Engine stories narrated by Reverend W. Awdry published in 1957 as C.1000-1001 by Chiltern Records, also listed as part of Transacord Limited's 7 inch 33 1/3 rpm records. This is a recording of takes and edits for C.1000-1001. Note on case: Rev. W. Awdry, Thomas the tank engine etc., 15 ips, 1. Edward's day out, 2. Edward and Gordon, 3. Sad story of Henry, 4. Edward, Gordon and Henry, 5. Edward's day out (correction, other corrections), 6. Thomas and Gordon, 7. Thomas's trains ; All transferred to DAT

Published sound recording - Edward's Day Out and Edward & Gordon

1957
Album of Thomas the Tank Engine stories narrated by Reverend W. Awdry published in 1957 as C.1000-1001 by Chiltern Records, also listed as part of Transacord Limited's 7 inch 33 1/3 rpm records. This is a recording of takes and edits for C.1000-1001. Note on case: 11A, All Rev. W. Awdry recorded, 7 1/2 ips, 1. Edward's day out, 2. Sad story of Henry, 3. Edward, Gordon and Henry, 4. Thomas and Gordon, 5. Thomas's trains ; All transferred to DAT

Published sound recording - Edward's Day Out and Edward & Gordon

1957
Master tapes of sound recordings taken on the railways from the 1950s to the 1970s. Second batch received 26th March 2004.

the peter handford archive

circa 1950-2003
Cassette tape, complimentary, British Rail, entitled ‘Paying the Piper’, words and music for the traveller from Barry Took and British Rail, boxed with Barry Took autograph, copyright 1986, 193mm x 121mm x 20mm.

Barry Took Paying the Piper

1986
Three audiocassettes recorded during the seminar 'APT-E Past & Future' organised by the Institute of Railway Studies on 28 September 1996. Two audiocassettes cover the morning session (tape 1, sides A and B, tape 2, sides A and B), one tape the afternoon session (tape 3, sides A and B).

Audio recording of Institute of Railway Studies seminar, APT-E Past & Future

1996-09-28
One 10 inch lacquer disc, album "Birmingham-Leamington" published in 1955 by Transacord Limited as E/428-429. Recordings made by Peter Handford.

Transacord Ltd. 10 inch disc, Birmingham-Leamington

1955
Three 10 inch lacquer discs (aka acetate discs), railway sound recordings made by Peter Handford/Transacord Ltd., in the United Kingdom, in the 1950s. These are early editions of Transacord Ltd discs. The discs titles and references are: "Birmingham-Leamington" E/428-429, "The Class A3 'Pacific' locomotive" E/440-441and "From London (Euston)" E/442-443. Typed notes detailing the content of the discs are enclosed in the discs sleeves.

Transacord Ltd. 10 inch lacquer discs of Peter Handford railway sound recordings

1950-1960
Original sound recording on 1/4 inch reel-to-reel magnetic audio tape, recorded by John Burnie. Sounds of a steam train and whistle, recorded in the North of River Clyde, likely in 1964. Handwritten note enclosed: Central low level Friday 2 October, day before withdrawal of passenger services. 0-22 3.57pm train to Dalmuir riverside starting from the station on the last day of the working; 22-301 On the footplate of 44898, on the train to Dumbarton Central, leaving low level at 4.42

Original sound recording 'Steam north of the River 1B'

1960-1970
Original sound recording on 1/4 inch reel-to-reel magnetic audio tape, recorded by John Burnie in the 1960s. Side 1: unidentified steam train recordings. Side 2: recording of BBC radio broadcast from 11/02/1965, ‘The Awful Calamity’ story told by Eleanor Ransome (about the 1st railway death, William Huskisson, golden snuffbox offered by widow Mrs Huskisson to Doctor Ransome who tried to rescue Huskinson on the day). Duration: 37 minutes on each side.

Original sound recording of unidentified steam train and BBC radio broadcast 'The Awful Calamity'

1965
Original sound recording on 1/4 inch reel-to-reel magnetic audio tape, recorded by John Burnie in 1965. Sound of birds singing and a steam train in motion. Handwritten note enclosed: Mon 24 May 1965, Beside Loch Libo. 7.49 73106, D28 late, M.U, 45489

Original sound recording 'Beside Loch Libo, 1965'

1965-05-24
Original sound recording on 1/4 inch reel-to-reel magnetic audio tape, recorded by John Burnie in the 1960s. Sound of a train travelling on a windy day

Original sound recording 'Port Road Eastern section'

1960-1970
Original sound recording on 1/4 inch reel-to-reel magnetic audio tape, recorded by John Burnie in the 1960s. Sound of a steam train including whistles, puffing and breaks screaming.

Original sound recording 'The East Fife Rail Tour'

1960-1970
Original sound recording on 1/4 inch reel-to-reel magnetic audio tape, recorded by John Burnie on 13 August 1964. Handwritten note enclosed: Terminus Glasgow’s terminal stations. Dull, dry 13 August 1964. Central. 0-12 11.19 electric M.U leaves station for the inner circle. 12-27 12.25 to Wemyss Bay leaving plat 12 behind 80061 the train emerges from beneath the echoing roof passes the microphone and [starts] off across the bridge. 27-39 Electric M.U departing for [Hellston?] with the 12.36. 40-57 73061 [Propels?] the coaches of the 1.5 to Gourock into plat 13. 57-78 Out of plat 12 comes the 12.50 to Gourock being 73075. 78-89 While D215 comes right into the station, the 80060 enters plat 12 with the 1.0 from Gourock. 89-95 80086 backs down into plat 12 96-112 73061 leaves plat 13 on 1.5 for Gourock while a diesel waits in the bay. 112-135 While an electric M.U leaves the station, 80086 passes on the 1.20 to Gourock from plat 12 a diesel M.U enters 13, then 80066 leaves light. 135-145 80066 leaves the station light. 145-159 80110 takes a train of empty stock out of the station St Enoch. 160-209 73063 leave on 2pm to Carlisle hardly has the train 9[entered?] the Clyde bridge when D[sl?] leaves, to the accompaniment of a ‘staff announcement’. 209-253 80024 leaves with coaches ex 11am Carlisle 253-264 44726 leaves light. Buchanan street. 264-308 A gaggle of ‘enthusiasts’ watches the 3.15pm for Dundee wave behind 45313 while 45214 simmers 2 platforms away

Original sound recording 'Terminus Glasgow’s terminal stations'

1964-08-13
Original sound recording on 1/4 inch reel-to-reel magnetic audio tape, recorded by John Burnie in the 1960s. Recording of worn out engine, voices of workers can be heard in background, unknown location/railway line; end of recording is slowly passing steam train (maybe freight?), including locomotives whistles. Duration: 11 minutes

Original sound recording 'Demolition Train'

1960-1970
Original sound recording on 1/4 inch reel-to-reel magnetic audio tape, recorded by John Burnie in the 1960s. Unidentified steam train recording, recorded from the footplate (includes sound of fireman shovelling coal at the beginning of recording). Duration: 9 minutes

Original sound recording of unidentified steam train

1960-1970
Album "McGonagall" recorded and published in 1982 by Top Coin Records (TOP 67). Poems by William Topaz McGonagall about the Tay Bridge, performed by Peter Trust. Special label attached commemorating Tay Bridge Centenary 1887-1987. 12 inch 33 1/3 rpm LP disc recorded on two sides.

12-inch, 33 1/3 rpm LP disc 'McGonagall - Peter Trust' of poems about Tay Bridge

1982
Commercial edition, released under reference SC 501, by Scotsman Cover Services in 1975. Recordings made in North America of 4472 Flying Scotsman & Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 Berkshire 759

12-inch, 33 1/3 rpm LP disc 'Scotsman Stateside'

1975
Commercial 45 rpm EP (extended play) disc titled Folk Train released in 1970, produced by Folk Heritage Recordings for The Yorkshire Dales Railway Society, with musicians/artists Mike Donald, Ian Clark, and Christopher Rowe The EP contains 4 tracks: 'Settle-Carlisle Railway', 'Visions of Cumbria', 'Night Express-North Bound' and 'The Permanent Way'. With music, words and likely railway sound recordings

45 rpm EP disc ‘Folk Train’

1970
Copy of BBC recordings on 1/4inch magnetic reel-to-reel referenced as Tape S-3. Details handwritten on case and on accompanying notes: green lead: 'On Railways', Spain, 26/06/1960, 24/08/1960 and Talgo 31/08/1960, London York 04/1961 ; red lead: 'On Railways', third rail electrification, 21/09/1960

Sound recording copy of Patrick Ransome-Wallis contribution to BBC radio programme 'On Railways' on third rail electrification, broadcast on 21/09/1960

1959-1960
One magnetic reel-to-reel 1/4" audio tape, copy of Industrial Welfare Society's 'The Telephone Operator'. This copy is thought to have been used by British Railways Board as audio training material for their staff in the 1970s-1980s. A different title, 'The Receptionist', is written on the reel.

Sound recording copy of The Telephone Operator

Three magnetic reel-to-reel 1/4" audio tapes, copies of 'Safety on 25kV AC Electrified Lines: Traffic & Maintenance Staff' thought to have been made by British Transport Films as training material for British Railways staff in the 1970s-80s. On their cases, two copies are marked '10', one is marked '13'. They are pulsed copies, made to be used in conjunction with a slide projector. This audio production would have been shown with slides.

Sound recording copies of Safety on 25kV AC Electrified Lines: Traffic & Maintenance Staff

Audio cassette, corporate material produced by European Rail Catering (1996-1997, previously known as the OBS Company, formed by the management team of Intercity Onboard Services, following the privatisation of British Rail in 1994-1995). The audio cassette is an introduction to European Rail Catering, where its Managing Director, Terry Coyle, addresses new starters. He presents the organisation, people and products made by the company.

Audio cassette, ‘Terry Coyle introduces European Rail catering to new entrants’

1996-1997
Audio cassette ‘Cuneo: Railway painter of the century talking to Narisa Chakra’ published by Richard Lucraft Limited in 1990. This audio cassette was likely released to accompany the book ‘Terrence Cuneo: railway painter of the century’ by Narisa Chakra (London : New Cavendish Books, 1990; ISBN 0904568741), as insert inside the case refers to book pages on specific posters and paintings.

Audio cassette 'Cuneo: Railway painter of the century talking to Narisa Chakra'

1990
Copy of BBC recordings on 1/4inch magnetic reel-to-reel referenced as Tape 10. Details handwritten on case and on accompanying notes: green lead: BR Down Golden Arrow 34100 'Appledore' 397 tons tare 04/05/1961, BR Folkestone junction-Folkestone Harbour 0-6-0 PT 4636 04/05/1961, BR difficulties in Sevenoaks tunnel with 34100 on OP GA 04/05/1961, SNCF D/C electric Montparnasse-Le Mans 10/05/1961, SNCF 241.D.87 Le Mans-St Brieuc 10/05/1961 ; Red lead: SNCF 231.E.3 Paris-Jeumont 12/05/1961, Jeumont-Paris, SNCF 231.E.32 Amiens-Calais, SNCF bo-bo AC 16023 Paris-Lille 13/05/1961, SNCF Bo-bo AC 16023 Lille- Longueau 13/05/1961, 'On Railways' 24/08/1961 Golden Arrow

Sound recording copy of Patrick Ransome-Wallis contribution to BBC radio programme 'On Railways' on French railways broadcast on 03/08/1961 and British railways broadcast on 31/08/1961

1961
One magnetic reel-to-reel 1/4" audio tape, marked 'Tape for "Riley versus Jennings"' on case and 'Lesson' on reel. This tape may contain training material for British Railways staff in the 1970s-80s.

Sound recording for Riley versus Jennings

One magnetic reel-to-reel 1/4" audio tape, copy of 'Accident Prevention' thought to have been made by British Transport Films as training material for British Railways staff in the 1970s-80s. On the case, this copy are marked '12'. This is a pulsed copy, made to be used in conjunction with a slide projector. This audio production would have been shown with slides.

Sound recording copy of Accident Prevention

Copy of BBC recordings on 1/4inch magnetic reel-to-reel referenced as Tape S-1. Details handwritten on case and on accompanying notes: white or green lead: BBC 3rd programme 'On Railways' 18/10/1959, BR Class 9, RH&D, USA & Mexican loco recording by M. Rastron, 24/08/1961 ; red lead: 2nd side 3rd programme 'On Railways' 10/01/1960, "too many diesels" with R.C. Bond (technical advisor for British Transport Commission)

Sound recording copy of Patrick Ransome-Wallis contribution to BBC radio programme 'On Railways' on British Railways, USA and Mexican railroads, broadcast on 18/10/1959, 10/01/1960 and 24/08/1961

1959-1961
One magnetic reel-to-reel 1/4" audio tape, copy of '30' Station Announcer', likely a reel of test/practice station announcements (different female voices). The reel seemed to have been accidenttally left on recording ambient background sound and background conversation at points.

Sound recording copy of Station Announcer