First generation diesels are becoming as scarce as steam engines. By 1989, a few could be found on branch lines, and still fewer restored and running for fan trips. Green Frog has been searching out these 1940's and 1950's diesels and recording them with state of the art equipment. We've also added some sounds from recordings made with state of the art professional Ampex equipment and Telefunken mikes way back in 1955! So listen now to the past....those old diesels many of us grew up with, and some of us have NEVER heard. Enjoy these dynamic stereo sounds.
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#1 There are a number of E-8's still running, and this one runs frequently on the New Georgia Railway, the railroad maintained and run by the state of Georgia. Here the E-8 drifts by while revving up every so often. Listen to that flange squeal and rail creek!
#2 Again the E-8 drifts by, this time more slowly
#3 We next catch the E-8 at a railroad crossing. The horn will wake you up, and listen to that bell, and the following passenger cars. The "motor" noises are the powered generators under the passenger cars.
#4 Alco RS-1's....not many of those left, and these are in incredible shape. The Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad in South Georgia has a string of them! All painted white with a very "Southern" (Georgia Southern, that is) herald on the side. Listen to that Bob White in the background sing its song as the train approaches. The deft hand on that horn is unusual. Perhaps this engineer used to run a steam loco and played the whistle.
#5 Two RS-1's drift by in the main yard. You cannot miss that highly distinctive Alco sound here. Those grinding of flanges against rail are not too unique for a branch line, but great listening!
#6 Two RS-1's drift over a switch frog, followed by a cut of cars...how's that for great sound?
#7 Remember the GP-7? It was the forerunner of the GP-9, one of the most prolific diesels General Motors ever built. Here two of them take off in the main yard of the Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad...and we mean take off!!!
#8 Again the GP-7's run by our mics and come to a stop; a switch is thrown and they back by us again.
#9 It is 1955, and the Nickel Plate passenger train, the Blue Goose pulls into a station at Valparaiso, Indiana. On the front are A-B-A Alco PA's. Listen closely to the conductor and station agent talking just prior to the train departure. Those slamming noises are from the vestibule steps and doors. Then listen to the distinctive whine of the PA's as they wind up.
#10 A single F-3 on the Michigan Central pulls out of a small yard in Indiana in 1955. It is early evening, and the way freight crosses the diamond of it's parent, the New York Central. That "bleep" type of horn had little melody, but was sure loud!
#11 The famed 20th Century Limited still was a great train back in 1955! Here two E-8's fly by the same diamond on their way to New York with that famous train...and at speed!!
#12 A trio of NYC F-3's in an A-B-A arrangement head West past the tower. Few of the freight cars carry roller bearings yet!
#13 The second section of the 20th Century Limited flies by with two E-8 A units back to back. This one appears to be trying to catch up to the first section!!!
#14 We are back to 1988 again where we catch two GP-9's hauling a freight north of Canton Georgia on the Georgia Northeastern Railroad. A full tape and CD of GP-9's is available from Green Frog, appropriately titled "The GP-9's"!
#15 Four GP-9's rev up with a freight and the engineer notches 'er up again, then they come to a quick stop. They idle for a short time, then back past the mics again. Audio like this is difficult to record with this much dynamic sound.
#16 Four GP-9's rev up and down as they move a few cars around the Marietta Yard. If there was ever a distinctive General Motors sound, these locos sure did win first prize!
#17 Four 9's work up a 4 percent grade near Tonigh, Georgia on the Georgia Northeastern. A long load of cement cars trail behind, and these locos are in notch 9 and only moving about 20 MPH!
#18 Back to 1955 again, and the mics catch some F-7's in an A-B-A consist, pulling a freight train past a tower on the Michigan Central. The train crosses over the NYC tracks.
#19 A single GP-7 switches a yard on the Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad in South Georgia. The loco comes to a stop, a switch is thrown, and she backs up again. Did that horn wake you up?!!
#20 Two GP-9's run up grade and cross over the Little River bridge. This bridge consists of two pile trestle approaches and a steel deck truss, 100 feet above the river. A long train rumbles behind, listen to that flange squeal and the rumble of the deck truss---then finally silence punctuated by the horn of the lead GP-9 now more than two miles away.
#21 Two 9's pull into the yard in Marietta, horns blasting, then come to a stop. They idle for a time, then drift down the yard.
This item is a Downloadable product and after you submit your credit card info and purchase this item, you will receive an automatic E-mail with a link for you to download this complete CD.
