Comments on 2 N&W audio CDs

[NW Mailing List]

Last month, I rec'd the 2 latest audio CDs (among other goodies) from the
Society's store:  Pigeon Creek Shifter and Clinch Valley Local.  Each
includes a detailed "liner sheet" behind the top cover half.  I own other
CDs created from various late 50s tape recordings but these 2 are the best
I've heard so far.  I'm sure it has a lot to do with the quality of the
recording equipment and how well they were preserved but hats off to Jim
Herron for pulling these together and putting out in CD format for N&W fans
to enjoy.

 

If it's possible to wear out a CD, the PCS disc would be toast already.
It's 58.5 minutes long . a great "background" CD when working on the layout
or, in my case, making castings and packing kits.  One of the best sets of
sequences of "basic" chasing and recording as I've heard from that era.
Several of the sequences are on par with Link's professionally recorded LPs.
It doesn't have the same "flare" as Link's recordings (not much can compete
with Thunder on Blue Ridge!) but that doesn't detract from the quality of
Mr. Bauer's recordings.  The main difference is that Mr. Bauer's scene
selection and sound recording are of 2 "mundane" coal branch shifters, both
with Y-6s as power, compared to riding behind an A from Crewe to Villamont
or trackside clips of passing Js, etc.  While Link's "2nd Pigeon ." record
also follows a mine shifter and has more variety of sequences, Mr. Bauer's
CD follows from parallel highway(s) over at least 9 miles, thru cuts, over
crossings, etc.  His sequences are fewer but longer and more "continuous"
than Link's, which were limited by the play time of a 12" LP (about 45
minutes).

 

The Clinch Valley Local CD is recorded entirely onboard from a baggage car
on a single trip in June 1958.  Run time is 67 minutes.  It captures typical
sounds heard during station stops, crossing bridges, blowing for crossings,
etc.  While my main interests lie in listening to freights slogging it out
with heavy trains, switching, etc., hearing 578 on Train 5 is a real treat
and the only place (that I know of) where you can hear this train on a
recording.

 

I highly recommend both CDs.  Order your copies to help support the Society
in these non-train-show times.

 

Jim King

http://smokymountainmodelworks.com/

 

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