Sounds Of NKP 759 (1968)

Sounds Of Nickel Plate 759 is one of many railroad recordings, put together by Alan Botto & released by Semaphore Records in the 1960s & 1970s. This record was put together, in coordination with Ross Rowlands High Iron Company in 1968 & was an official souvenir of the Golden Spike Limited of 1968 & 1969. Select sound recordings from this record were used with Permission from the High Iron Company & Botto on Utah Phillips 1973 Album "Good Though!"

The original description of Sounds Of NKP 759 is below:

SOUNDS OF NICKEL PLATE 759

Locomotive No. 759 was built in 1944 by the Lima Locomotive Works, of Lima, Ohio, for the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, more commonly known as the Nickel Plate Road, now merged into the Norfolk and Western Railway. No. 759 is a 2-8-4, S-2 Class, Berkshire type steam locomotive representing a zenith in modern reciprocating engine design. In January 1958, 759 made her last revenue run, and in 1962 was sold to the famous Steamtown U.S A. museum founded by the late F. Nelson Blount at Bellows Falls, Vermont. There she joined more than 50 steam locomotives of various types saved from the scrappers torch to become part of one of the truly outstanding rail museums in the United States. Then, in March of 1968, High Iron Company's president Ross E. Rowland, Jr., approached the other trustees of Steamtown with a proposal to return No. 759 to active mainline service with all revenues after expenses going to a fund to build a new round-house for the museum. Steamtown U.S.A. enthusiastically agreed to this plan, and on June 15, 1968, No. 759 was sent to the Norfolk and Western Conneaut Ohio shops for complete reconditioning. Since then she has carried thousands of happy passengers, many who have never seen a steam locomotive before let alone ride behind one, on High Iron excursions throughout the east. 759 also had the distinction of heading the High Iron-Association of American Railroad's Golden Spike Centennial Limited from New York City to Ogden, Utah and return in May, 1969. 759 has 69 inch drive wheels and was used primarily in freight service on the Nickel Plate. She was frequently clocked pulling 80 car freight trains over the road at speeds of 65 mph In operating condition she weights 401.2 tons and measures 100 feet 8 3/4 inches. The tender capacities are 22 tons of coal and 22,000 gallons of water.

TRACK 1
"All Aboard"
From the first car behind the locomotive., we hear the engineer signal the start with two blast of the steam chime whistle. The cylinder cocks are opened to assist in starting, and soon the huge locomotive is slowly pulling away from the Lebanon, New Jersey station, which is an excellent example of a typical turn-of-the-century passenger station. It has been restored and now serves as general offices for the High Iron Company.

Hampton Hill
Standing trackside a few miles from the station, we hear No. 759 assaulting the 1% Hampton Hill grade of the Jersey Central Railroad. This sequence contains such realism that you may jump back when the locomotive thunders past in breathtaking stereo!

TRACK 2
Weissport Crossing
The ring of automatic signals and the cry of the steam whistle herald the approach of the excursion special. Delighted on-lookers of all ages gather trackside to watch the passing of one of the few operating steam locomotives, each secretly wishing to be one of the lucky passengers riding the train.

Highballing
Back on-board the train again, 759 is heard in a thrilling mile-a-minute high speed run on the main line. This is reminiscent of days past when 759 rolled those famous fast freights on the Nickel Plate.

Junction
Approaching the end of the trip, 759 drifts into the station at slow speed. The sharp rifle sounds heard come from pumps on the locomotive which are steam activated and exhaust out the smoke stack.

Produced by A. ALAN BOTTO
RELEASED BY THE SEMAPHORE DIVISION, VANTAGE RECORDING COMPANY, MADE IN U.S.A.