Join Aaron Heverin as he continues his engaging program on the history of the railroad sound recordings genre, made popular by pioneers such as O. Winston Link, Fred McLeod, William A. Steventon, J. J. Young Jr., Brad Miller, and others. Among the most important contributors to this genre is one of the Chapter’s founding members, John M. Prophet III, whose work is also familiar to listeners of the popular  "Living with Steam" podcast.
 

Almost as soon as the technology became available to record sound in the field, dedicated—if not downright fanatical—railfans began positioning themselves trackside or aboard moving trains, doing everything possible to capture the raw, unmatched power of a locomotive in motion. Their primary focus was the steam engine: its thunderous exhaust, deep whistle echoes, rhythmic valve gear, and the very sounds that defined railroading for generations.
 

During postwar America, as steam locomotives were rapidly and systematically replaced by diesel power, the railroad sound recording genre reached the height of its popularity. For many listeners, these recordings became far more than technical achievements—they were a way to relive sights and sounds that were vanishing almost overnight. By the mid to late 1950s, steam had all but disappeared from mainline service, and these recordings preserved the voices of locomotives that would never be heard again.
 

This program explores how these early sound recordists helped preserve the living memory of steam railroading, allowing future generations to once again experience the power, drama, and emotion of trains that once ran through countless towns and communities across America.

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ALL ARE WELCOME!