Here is something that I am glad to share. I am developing a podcast which is called “Revival Steam.” It is a fiction series that depicts 21st-century American Revenue Service passenger and freight trains pulled by steam locomotives. I wonder if anyone here has any recordings available to share or purchase or suggestions on where I could locate such sound recordings. I am open to any steam locomotive recordings from the late 40s to the early 60s in revenue service and even during excursion service.

Alec

We have had lists of steam recordings in the past, and so have some of the Kalmbach forums. Be sure you understand rebroadcast rights for some of the material, particularly if it is still being sold.

Be advised that a great many railfan videos with 'sound' actually have stuff dubbed in that kinda-sorta matches the action on screen in timbre and tempo... but NOT prototypical sound. One exception is the recently-discovered group of newsreel 'outtakes' which can have original sound -- this is, for example, how we know what a DL&W Pocono's horn sounded like.

My guess is that for a podcast, much of the YouTube video soundtracks might be usable, particularly if this is a 'background' track.

If you're actually going to simulate 21st-Century power, and not 20th, you may have to learn how to run a good synthesizer, and 'prime' it with some sound samples from reasonable power. It's not really 'preservationist', let alone 'strict preservationist' to describe the sound of different kinds of advanced steam locomotives.

They actually had hard working, big, 21st Century, steam power in China, with the last SY class being completed in Y2K. There are still a very few survivors in use, but a number of good soundtracks could be obtained from Revelation Video DVDs. You'd need to work something out with Reverend Ron McElrath, (330) 630-9817.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions so far. I am aware of how I am going to use the sounds as well as the barriers I need to get past. I will also acknowledge and give credit to those who are willing enough to share them with me. Narrating each episode is crucial since I will make the listener imagine the world I am trying to develop in this podcast. Adding sound effects like a thunderstorm, busy station, or crickets chirping at night would also add flavor.

This is a lot to explain and I will explain more in the pilot episode that I am doing some editing as of today.

If any of you have more suggestions or advice on how I should do this, please let me know at any time.

Thanks.

Alec

Revelation Video has a couple dozen Chinese steam DVDs, which also feature native Chinese music and any number of ambient sounds in addition to train sounds. If you were to consult the good Reverend, I bet for a reasonable consideration you could arrange to draw upon his library of camera masters, rather than using the material as he edited it for his audience.