LwS EXTRA: “Thunderstorm” at Lewistown, PA

This slightly different episode of Living with Steam EXTRA features my two favorite sounds combined; trains and thunderstorms. While visiting the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society’s archives in Lewistown, PA., I set up a portable recording studio to capture the constant train activity taking place outside the building… which just happens to be the former PRR passenger station. Rain had been in the forecast for one of the days I was scheduled to be in Lewistown, but it never happened.

Although disappointed, I decided instead to make a soundscape similar to what Brad Miller created in his classic “Steel Rails Under Thundering Skies” album release from 1971. In other words, if the thunderstorm wasn’t going to happen while I was recording in Lewistown, I’d make my own after I returned home and listened to the 42 hours of recordings I made and compiled it into over 90 minutes of constant train activity.

So, this episode of LwS EXTRA is designed for listening enjoyment. There’s nothing historical or technical to take in. Even though my intent was to follow in John Prophet’s footsteps while making my recordings at Lewistown, I found that by making this soundscape, it’s best to simply sit back and enjoy it for what it is; trains in a thunderstorm.