Q: [Ed Johansen asks:]
I was wondering how many 'Sounds of Steam Railroading' records
O. Winston Link produced. I have seen four;
Vol 1 'Sounds of Steam Railroading' 1957,
Vol 2 'The Fading Giant' 1958,
Vol 3 'Thunder on Blue Ridge' 1959,
Vol 4 '2nd Pigeon Forge and the Mocking Bird' 1961.
Were there more?
[And also on O. Winston Link, Raymond Ochrym writes:}
I just saw a wonderful movie entitled October Sky. it deals with the son of a coal miner in West Virginia who is fascinated by rockets in the 1950's. There are a small number of steam train scenes which reminded me of the photos of O. Winston Link. I was quite suprised to see a scene of a steam train coming around the bend with the engineer none other than Mr. Link himself; I waited till the final credits to roll by, (we were the only ones left in the theater by then,) and sure enough it was him! I recommend the film to all; it is one of thoses films with a strong message which can be viewed by all of all ages.
A:
YES! Here's the complete list as we know it. Comments from many respondents follow.
Vol 1 'Sounds of Steam Railroading' 1957,
Vol 2 'The Fading Giant' 1958,
Vol 3 'Thunder on Blue Ridge' 1959,
Vol 4 'Second Pigeon and the Mocking Bird' 1961.
Vol 5 "The General' (year?).
Vol 6 "Mainline to Panther' 1977.
[Roger Huber says:]
Link also made a small (7"?) recording of the W&A "General".
It was very nice. There's also a small record that was produced
for one of his photo "displays". It featured N&W
sounds and I think there were some that weren't on his LP's.
[Ken Miller adds:]
There was one more, a 45 rpm or compact 33 (seven inch size) that
was recordings of the "General" during its Centennial
Tour. Sadly no further N&W. The General was considered as
"Sounds of Steam Railroading Volume 5".
[Jim King's comments:]
A 5th record "Mainline to Panther" was released in 1977.
It's referred to as Volume 6 since the General's little disc was
vol. 5.
Side A is all on board an east bound time freight between Crewe and Blue Ridge, riding the cab roof behind the canteen on A 1238. Great sequencing! Winter, 1958. Typical Link commentary. Side B has various scenes from switchers in Roanoke to Js and a couple Ys in WVa.
Is there any hope of getting all 5 N&W records on CD? I have all 5 records and they are greatly treasured. Sure would like to have CDs though.
[Ed King:]
Second Pigeon referred to the mine run being recorded, the Williamson-based
second Pigeon Creek Shifter. It worked on the Scioto Division
as far west as Kermit.
[Ron Flanary says:]
There was also "Mainline to Panther" that came out in
the '70s I believe. Nice record, too - including some interesting
stuff with Link aboard a caboose behind an A on a time freight
("Boy, he's really rollin'---you can see the CTC signals
through the smoke, the cadmium yellow---the smoke is layin' straight
over the cars-----boy, what smoke!".....or something like
that).
[Ed Case:]
Volume No.6 was "Mainline To Panther" It contains the
famous run up "Blueridge" with a merchandise train .
The wonderful #1238 was "really workin" when the grade
got to be to much. She called for a helper and thundered on. Also
stared are a "J"and a Y-6, numbers unknown, and switchers
#242 and #243.
I hope every one in the society supports Mr.Link in his effort to produce these wonderful sounds on C.D.s, that bring tears to the eyes of old N&W steam lovers.
[Editor:] Nobody could put it better, Ed. And, Mr. Link, are you listening?
[Posted 12-Mar-99]