Here’s a video I’ve put together of a classic N&W sound recording appropriate for this time of year. It’s one of my personal favorites from O.W. Link!
Train 42 'The Pelican' headed by N&W J Class #603 arrives at Rural Retreat, Virginia eastbound from New Orleans to Washington D.C. shortly before 10:00 pm on Christmas Eve on December 24, 1957. The Norfolk & Western Railway's own Class J was perhaps the finest of all express steam engines, and Number 603 is heard here in its last days of main line service with a consist of 17 cars. The photograph is of Train 17 'The Birmingham Special' westbound arriving later that same night at 11:37 pm being waved through by Agent J.L. Akers. The photograph and sound recording were originally by O. Winston Link and his assistant Corky Zider who operated a Tapesonic recorder and non-directional microphone. Church bell chimes were played specially for the recording at the nearby Grace Lutherian Church by a Mrs. K. Dodson. Seven nights later, steam power on passenger trains would come to an end on the Bristol line. The building on the right still stands today. Image colorized.
