Atmospheric Pictures: Peter Handford’s Steam Railway Recordings Vol Two CD

Tracks 1 - 3: Winter nights in the Chilterns. Recorded in December 1961 and January 1962 at Princes Risborough.

4 - 6: Evening at Bromsgrove, Night near Llangunllo, Night and dawn at Steele Road. - Recordings made at Princes Risborough on the former G.W. & G.C. Joint Line; at the foot of the Lickey Incline at Bromsgrove; on the Central Wales Line near Llangunllo; and on the Carlisle-Hawick-Edinburgh Line near Riccarton Junction.

Track 7: South Eastern Steam - Steam haulage on the Kent Coast lines (Folkestone Harbour - Herne Bay - Whitstable), recorded in 1956 and 1958.

Ever since its release in 1962, the visually inspirational nature of 'Trains in the Night' (reissued here in its entirety) has made it one recording that has especially captured the imagination of rail enthusiasts. Here you have Handford braving some of Britain's most majestic but unforgiving weather conditions, masterly recording something that holds extra significance to the listener. Possibly because it brilliantly captures vividly the backdrop nuances associated with the chill of a snow covered December winter night in the Chilterns or a countryside dawn which is laden in fog. Then comes 'into the picture', the sound of the engines gallantly battling against all these elements, the steep climbs and the navigational tests, and all in just another night during their routine working life. There are also the contrasts of an August evening in Wales or the challenge of slippery tracks during a damp spring (all with the background of early morning bird song). The remainder of this CD is dedicated to recordings of steam haulage on the Kent coast, taking in Folkestone Harbour, Herne Bay and Whitstable. Recordings of the boat trains and the bustle of an industrial fishing and shipping coast in December, April and the high season of July and August.
Stereo (except Track 7, Mono)

Playing Time 58:05 (approx)

MCPS

Historic Archive Recordings

All tracks carefully transcribed and digitally restored from the original discs.