As a result of a conversation over in the comments section, I decided it was about time to get a handle on my railroad audio collection as it is at this moment. What follows is a raw list of titles in my collection. Most of these I have the original media, whether that is on LP, Cassette, or CD. A few of these titles I have CD’s recorded from the source material as I was making a CD for the owner of the record.
Preceding each title is the original format; LP Record, 7″ LP, 10″ LP, Cassette, CD or MP3. MP3 notes a download from iTunes or Amazon. Many of these titles have been digitized in my collection, though a large number of LP records are not finished.
Mary Rae McPherson
5 Chime Recordings
7” LP – Your Sound Of Steam Souvenir, Volume 1
7” LP – Your Sound Of Steam Souvenir, Volume 2
The 470 Railroad Club
LP Record – Vanishing Vapor On The Boston And Maine
Adventures In Sound
Cassette – 17 Mile Grade: Chessie Safety Express
Cassette – 2102-4070
Cassette – Life After Retirement
Cassette – Next Station: Oblivion
Alan Sherry Recordings
7” LP – AS-3 – C.N. Northern Sunset
LP Record – Extra 1235 East
Arkay Records
Cassette – 4449: The World’s Most Beautiful Train
Cassette – Accent On Steam
Cassette – Accent On Steam, Volume 2
CD – A Decade Of Steam, Volume 1
LP Record – A Decade Of Steam, Volume 2
LP Record – A Decade Of Steam, Volume 3
Cassette – First Generation Diesels, Volume 1
Cassette – First Generation Diesels, Volume 2
Cassette – High Country Steam
LP Record – Journey To Yesterday, Volume 1
LP Record – Journey To Yesterday, Volume 2
7” LP – Over The Sierras – Bicentennial Engine SP 4449
Audio Fidelity
LP Record – Memories Of Steam
LP Record – Railroad Sounds Steam And Diesel (Mono)
LP Record – Railroad Sounds Steam And Diesel (Stereo)
LP Record – Steam Past & Present
Lynford “Bud” Swearer
Cassette – Buffalo Creek Gauley and Cass
Cassette – Grand Trunk Western: Passenger Cabs
Cassette – Grand Trunk Western: Winter Way Freight
Cassette – Nickel Plate: Disaster Averted
Cassette – Nickel Plate: Fast Trains
Cassette – Norfolk & Western: A Night On The Mountain
Cassette – Norfolk & Western: Cinders On The Hill
Cassette – Norfolk & Western: Class S, K, Y, J, A, M Engines
Cassette – Norfolk & Western: Js And More Js
Cassette – Norfolk & Western: Mallets and Switchers
Cassette – Norfolk & Western: Mountain Switching With A Mallet
Cassette – Norfolk & Western: Whistle Storm On Blue Ridge Hill
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Historical Society
LP Record – Chesapeake & Ohio Sounds, Vol. I – Working Steam And Working Men
Cook Laboratories
10” LP – Rail Dynamics
Cuca Records
LP Record – Steam Power Along The Chicago & North Western
Custom Steam Productions
Cassette – J Okay
David Bell
CD – Engine 4501
Daylight Sales
CD – Air Horn Symphony, Volume 1
CD – Air Horn Symphony, Volume 2
CD – McCloud Railway #25
CD – Sounds of 2472
CD – Sounds of the Daylight 4449
Diverging Clear Productions
CD – The Chicken Bone And The Mocking Bird
CD – Elkville: Sounds of Trains In A Small Town
CD – Farewell To 1522
CD – Fast Freight
CD – On The Hill
CD – The Ozark Mountain
CD – Railroad Yard
CD – Riding Behind Steam, Volume 1 – Frisco 1522
CD – Riding Behind Steam, Volume 2 – Southern Railway 2839
CD – Riding Behind Steam, Volume 3 – Chesapeake & Ohio 614
CD – Riding Behind Steam, Volume 4 – Southern Railway 2716
CD – Riding the Little River Railroad
CD – Riding Louisville & Nashville 4-6-2 #152
CD – Sounds of the Black Hills Central, Volume 1
CD – Sounds of the Black Hills Central, Volume 2
CD – Sounds of Steam, Volume 1
CD – Sounds of Steam, Volume 2
CD – Sounds of Steam, Volume 3
CD – Sounds of Steam, Volume 4
CD – Sounds of Today’s Railroads
CD – Sounds of Trains
CD – Vintage Electro-Motive Diesels
Droll Yankees Inc.
7” LP – The Green Mountain Railroad
Five Star Records
LP Record – Memories Of The McCloud
Jay Winn
CD – Classic D&H Steam, 1950’s, Volume 1
CD – Classic Erie Steam Power, 1950’s, Volume 1
CD – P.R.R. Memories 5 – More Elmira Branch
Folkways Recordings
MP3 – Sounds of Steam Locomotives, Volume 1
MP3 – Sounds of Steam Locomotives, Volume 2
MP3 – Sounds of Steam Locomotives, Volume 3 – Colorado Narrow Gauge
MP3 – Sounds of Steam Locomotives, Volume 4 – The Great New York Central
MP3 – Sounds of Steam Locomotives, Volume 5 – The Stack Music Spectacular
Green Frog
Cassette – Diesels ‘87
CD – Remembering Steam, Volume 1 (Trackside)
CD – Remembering Steam, Volume 2 (Aboard the train)
Cassette – Remembering Steam, Volume 3 (Cab Ride)
Harold Spicer
CD – Train Sounds (Baltimore & Ohio)
Hi-Fi Records
LP Record – Farewell To Steam (Reissued Seymour Johnson record)
Jeff Mast
CD – Western Maryland Scenic Winter Photo Charter
Ken J. Johnson
Cassette – Santa Fe 3751 – The California Limited
L&H Railsonics
Cassette – Northern Pacific Steam
Cassette – Sounds of the Grand Canyon Railway
Cassette – Sound Of Steam
Cassette – Steam Locomotive Sounds
CD – Steam Tracks, Volume 1
CD – Steam Tracks, Volume 2
CD – Steam Tracks, Volume 3
Cassette – Steam’s Sunset
Mainline Sountracks
CD – 4501, 611 & 1218
Marker Productions
LP Record – A Winter Run On The Cadillac & Lake City
Mayfair
LP Record – Stereo Spectacular
Mobile Fidelity
LP Record – MF-01 – Memories In Steam
LP Record – MF-03 – Great Moments Of Steam Railroading
LP Record – MF-04 – Highball
LP Record – MF-05 – Remember When
LP Record – MF-06 – Whistling Thru Dixie
CD – MF-08 – Steam Railroading Under Thundering Skies
CD – MF-09 – Sunday Only
LP Record – MF-10 – Ghost Train
CD – MF-11 – Mr. D’s Machine
LP Record – MF-12 – Hear That Whistle Blow
LP Record – MF-13 – Twilight Of Steam, Volume 1
2 LP Record – MF-14 – Valle Del Locomotora De Vapor
LP Record – MF-15 – Twilight Of Steam, Volume 2
LP Record – MF-16 – Twilight Of Steam, Volume 3
LP Record – MF-17 – Twlight Of Steam, Volume 4
LP Record – MF-18 – Steam In The 60’s, Volume 1
LP Record – MF-19 – Steam In The 60s, Volume 2
LP Record – MF-402 – Greenboard South
LP Record – MF-403 – Last Train To Waterloo
CD – SB4-4504 – Steel Rails Under Thundering Skies
LP Record – SB4-4505 – A Royal Hudson
LP Record – SB4-4506 – American Freedom Train
LP Record – SB4-4507 – Extra 4449 North
CD – BCD6291 – Power and the Majesty
CD – BCD6292 – Power and the Majesty, Volume 2
2 LP Record – 2-614 – 614!
2 LP Record – 2-765 – 765!
2 LP Record – 2-4449 – 4449!
2 LP Record – 2-8444 – 8444!
CD – BCD6270 – Sounds of Trains, Volume 1
CD – BCD6271 – Sounds of Trains, Volume 2
CD – BCD6286 – Sounds of Trains, Volume 3
CD – BCD6287 – Sounds of Trains, Volume 4
2 CD – BCD6295 – 4449 Pinnacle
CD – FWR&HS – Symphony Of Steam
North Jersey Recordings
CD – LP-1131 – Rods, Wheels & Whistles
LP Record – LP-1134 – Fast Freight On The Nickel Plate
LP Record – LP-1135 – Reading 2124
LP Record – LP-1136 – Rio Grande To Silverton
LP Record – LP-1138 – Steam In The High Country
2 LP Record – LPS-1200 – Sound Of Steam
LP Record – Colorado & Southern Steam
O. Winston Link
CD – Sounds of Steam Railroading, Volume 1
CD – Sounds of Steam Railroading, Volume 2 – The Fading Giant
CD – Sounds of Steam Railroading, Volume 3 – Thunder On Blue Ridge (Mono)
CD – Sounds of Steam Railroading, Volume 4 – 2nd Pigeon And The Mockingbird
CD – Sounds of Steam Railroading, Volume 5 – The General
CD – Sounds of Steam Railroading, Volume 6 – Mainline To Panther (Mono)
Owl Records
LP Record – All Steamed Up
LP Record – ORLP-12 – The Big Steam: Union Pacific
LP Record – ORLP-17 – Power of the Past (1971)
LP Record – ORLP-18 – The Talking Giants (1969)
Pappy’s Productions
CD – Big Steam, Classic Diesels
CD – Fast Trains Rolling
Photo-Musical Adventures
Cassette – Sounds From The Georgetown Loop
Pilot To Tender Records
LP Record – Berkshire In The Alleghenies
LP Record – Berkshire On Blue Ridge
LP Record – Berkshire To Shenandoah
7” LP – Pacing U.P. 8444 Over Sherman Hill
Quiet Please Recording
CD – An Hour In The Tower
Railcraft Recordings
MP3 – Diesel Power
MP3 – Heavy Hauling
MP3 – Thunder On The Steel
MP3 – Trains At Work
Railroad Record Club
LP Record – RRC-1 – Wabash – Omaha Road
LP Record – RRC-3 – East Broad Top / Denver & Rio Grande Western
LP Record – RRC-4 – Baltimore & Ohio
LP Record – RRC-5 – Denver & Rio Grande Western
LP Record – RRC-7 – Norfolk & Western – Illinois Central
LP Record – RRC-8 – Canadian National
LP Record – RRC-9 – Winston-Salem Southbound
LP Record – RRC-10 – Pennsylvania R.R.
LP Record – RRC-12 – Duluth Missabe & Iron Range
LP Record – RRC-13 – Nickel Plate Road
LP Record – RRC-15 – Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
LP Record – RRC-19 – Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range
LP Record – RRC-20 – New York Central – Chicago And Illinois Midland
LP Record – RRC-21 – Duluth & Northeastern
LP Record – RRC-22 – Buffalo Creek & Gauley
LP Record – RRC-24 – Canadian Pacific
LP Record – RRC-29 – N.K.P.779
LP Record – RRC-SP-2 – Northern Pacific 2626 Memorial Album
LP Record – RRC-SP-5 – Soo Line – Illinois Central
Railway & Locomotive Historical Society
LP Record – Steam Echoes
LP Record – Whistles West
Ralbar Records
7” LP – Chicago, Burlington & Quincy – 5632
LP Record – Iron Horse Rambles, Volume 1
Revelation Audio-Visuals
Cassette – 2012 – Altoona to Gallitzin
Cassette – Canadian National Steam
Cassette – Canadian Pacific Cab Ride
Cassette – Canadian Pacific Steam
Cassette – Chessie Steam Special 2101
Cassette – China Steam
Cassette – Grand Trunk Western
Cassette – Horseshoe Curve
Cassette – Illinois Central Railroad
Cassette – Japan Traction
Cassette – N&W #611 – Trips 1982-1983
Cassette – Nickel Plate Berkshire 765
Cassette – Railroad Smorgasbord
Cassette – Riding the E-Units
Cassette – Southern 2-10-4 610 – 1977-1979
Cassette – Southern 722 – 1978-1980
Cassette – Sunset Sleeper
Richard Isett
Cassette – Crawford Hill
Cassette – Layin’ Down The Sand
Cassette – Riding Behind The “J”
Riverside
LP Record – Titans Of The High Iron
Rondo Records
LP Record – The Railroad In Stereo
Round House Records
LP Record – Detroit Division
Semaphore Records
2 CD – Modern Steam (Remastered)
7” LP – SR-2 – Grand Trunk Western 6323
CD – SR-3 – East Broad Top
CD – SR-12 – Whistles At Cass
7” LP – SR-15 – Whistles At Silverton
7” LP – SR-17 – Sounds Of 1401
CD – SR-20 – Sounds Of Nickel Plate 759
7” LP – SR-22 – Sounds Of The New Hope And Ivyland Railroad
7” LP – SR-25 – Sounds Of The Chessie Steam Special
7” LP – SR-29 – Sounds Of NKP #759 On The Horseshoe Curve
CD – SR-30 – Whistles On The East Broad Top
LP Record – SR-2101 – Doubleheader
LP Record – SR-2102 – Modern Steam
LP Record – SR-2105 – Steam’s Greatest Hits
LP Record – SR-2106 – Steam On The Standard Railroad Of The World, Volume 2
CD – SR-2107 – Ghost Whistles at Cass
CD – SR-2110 – On Time
CD – SR-2111 – Sounds of Steam on the Curve
LP Record – SR-2114 – High Iron 759
LP Record – SR-2116 – Here Comes The American Freedom Train
LP Record – SR-2117 – Steam On The Standard Railroad Of The World, Volume 1
LP Record – DLP-6001 – 1st Collector’s Series Volume 1
LP Record – DLP-6002 – 1st Collector’s Series Volume 2
LP Record – DLP-6005 – Fast Freight Rolling
Cassette – Sounds of Cass Scenic Railway
LP Record – Steam Sounds Of America’s First Railroad
LP Record – The First Collector’s Series, Volume 1
LP Record – The First Collector’s Series, Volume 2
2 CD – The Standard Railroad Of The World
Cassette – S1R-3 – The Reading Rides Again
CD – SR 2000-501 – Sounds of Altoona, Volume 1
Sound Service Company
7” LP – Sound Of Steam
Seymour Johnson
LP Record – Farewell To Steam
Stan Kistler
LP Record – SK-101 – This Is Railroading, Volume 1 – Big Boy
LP Record – SK-107 – This Is Railroading, Volume 3 – Whistles In The Woods
LP Record – SK-109 – Night Freight
7” LP – SK-113 – Sounds Of Steam On The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range
Cassette – Sounds Of Santa Fe Steam On The Los Angeles Division, 1950
SVS Films
CD – American Steam Railroad Sounds, Volume 1
Trak Works
CD – Rolling Thunder Over Cumbres Pass
CD – Santa Fe 3751 – The Glory Of Steam
CD – Sleep On a Train
CD – Speed and Power
CD – Track Talk On Board!
CD – Union Pacific Challenger 3985
Whistling Dixie
Cassette – A Frisco Mountain on Byron Hill
Unknown Producer
Cassette – 261- Last of the Milwaukeans
Cassette – 2839, 614, 765
CD – Authentic Steam Train
CD – Canadian National Railway
CD – Canadian Pacific Railway
Cassette – Cannonade In The Hills
Cassette – Highlights Of Steam, 1976-1983
CD – Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Cassette – Riding Behind Southern Railway 610
Cassette – Sixteen Slips
Cassette – Southern 2716, Fall ’81
Cassette – Train Ride
Cassette – Triple Header
MP3 – Vintage Train & Steam Engine Sounds
Hi there, I am interested in obtaining a track listing for “Steam Tracks, Volume 1” by L&H Railsonics (since purchased by Daylight Sales). I have the CD but lost the case, and I’m importing it into iTunes and would like to fill in the track info. Can you post or send me the track listing? Thanks.
What a perfect excuse to do another review. “Steam Tracks, Volume 1” coming soon!
Mary
Mary Rae, Just curious about the audio quality of Bud Swearer’s recordings? Are his cassettes available anywhere other than ebay? Do you know if he’s still living? Thanks, J. Garner
I don’t believe his recordings are available on eBay. Back when I was going to school in the late ’90s, I found a site he had put online and mail ordered a number of tapes directly from him. The site has come down in the 15 intervening years.
I remember his surprise at the size of my order, as he said people seldom bought in the quantity I did without at least sampling one or two first.
I did a Google search on Mr. Swearer recently and while it would appear that he is still among the living, it is difficult to come up with a current address or phone number.
As far as I know, he is no longer actively selling online.
Mary Rae McPherson
Thanks. How would compare his recordings with Mr. Link’s? I understand there are some fairly long sequences sometimes, but that they are well documented with dates, locations, engine #’s, etc. Is the audio quality good?
As far as technical quality, Mr. Link has the better recordings. They seem to have been made using better equipment. Of course the quality of the recordings I purchased from Mr. Swearer were also likely affected by the fact that they were cassettes made from thirty plus year old masters.
Beyond the issue of technical quality, the quantity and scope of the Swearer recordings were superior to the Link catalog. Mr. Swearer recorded a much wider range of subjects, such as Grand Trunk, Nickel Plate and Buffalo Creek & Gauley in addition to the N&W.
There are some wonderful recordings made on the N&W. One recording features a long pacing sequence with #1218 as it stops to allow a helper to tie on at Boaz and then restarts its train. There are also several long sequences recorded on Blue Ridge Grade. Priceless stuff. There are also recordings made in the cabs of Grand Trunk steam power on both freight and passenger trains.
I wish I had been able to afford more of his stuff while it was available.
Mary McPherson