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Boston & Maine Hoosac Tunnel Audio CD; 60 Minutes of nonstop B&M audio action CD

$ 3.04

Availability: 75 in stock
  • Condition: As new, never played.

    Description

    Boston & Maine Hoosac Tunnel Audio CD; 60 Minutes of nonstop B&M audio action CD
    BOSTON & MAINE’S HOOSAC TUNNEL 1970’s Vol. 1
    CD PR-18
    A one hour audio CD recorded in real time during the 1970's. This particular CD program B&M’S HOOSAC TUNNEL 1970’s Vol. 1 is the first of two programs on the Hoosac and was recorded in the early 1970’s at and nearby the east portal of the Hoosac Tunnel. The Boston & Maine RR main line running eastbound from East Deerfield, MA starts an approximately 10 mile winding climb at Zoar, MA on route 2 and follows the Deerfield River all the way to East Portal with the actual crest of the climb at about the midpoint of the bore. This area of the east portal is remote (approximately 10 miles from route 2) and free of extraneous noises, making it ideal for sound recording. It is possible to clearly hear (and record) the westbound trains from as far as a couple of miles down the mountain. Of course they are working hard and the B&M power of this era was generally not very modern. Additionally, there is that grade crossing about ¾ of a mile down the mountain from the tunnel, and the distant horns of the climbing westbounds can be very mournful and chilling. This effect is further enhanced by nighttime recordings of which there are a number on this program. You can hear the eastbound trains rumbling in the tunnel long before they reach the portal and suddenly they burst out of the tunnel and hit the grade crossing only a few hundred yards away.
    Track 1: is very unique. It records a whole series of connected events. We are set up on the east end of the bridge recording a distant WB freight. We can't see the WB but it seems to be slowing. Little did we know this WB had taken the siding. Suddenly a fast EB bursts out of the tunnel behind us causing some panic and rapid exit from the bridge. Then after the EB disappears down the mountain, we record the WB struggling to get his train started,. He finally gets a roll under her and she rumbles by our location.
    Track 2: We record a WB freight at night. This is 1970 and the tunnel warning siren is still working.
    Track 3: Another WB following the first by about 35 minutes.
    Track 4: Another trip and a WB freight recorded from the east end of the bridge.
    Track 5: Is two cuts. First the WB North Adams Local from East Deerfield roars up the mountain with an EMD SW7 in charge. This is followed by an EB freight that had been waiting at the west portal for the local to clear.
    Track 6: Is made up of two clips. First a WB Penn Central run through freight with snarling U Boats, (he neglects to blow for the grade crossing) followed by another EB B&M freight with an old F7 on the point.
    Track 7: A long EB (down) freight with GP 7s and 9s and a very strange horn.
    Track 8: Another long WB freight recorded from the east end of the bridge.
    Track 9: An EB 3 car Directors Special powered by a pair of D&H PA's, drifts out of the tunnel across the grade crossing and stops partway down the mountain. After the special leaves we hear an EB freight that has slowed considerably due to the slow moving special ahead of him.
    Track 10: No less than 3 more EB freights that had been backed up due to the special. The first one is moving medium speed, as is the second one. After a few minutes we are caught off guard by yet a 3rd EB, although this one is moving at a good clip down the mountain.
    If you are a B&M fan or a Hoosac Tunnel fan this is the CD Program for you… The B&M we once knew is gone, the traffic is way down, there are few chances to hear the trains struggling up the mountain.
    Happy to combine shipping & International bidders most welcome.