Need Help Identifying Mystery N&W Audio Recordings

[NW Mailing List]

Eli,

Thanks for sharing these wonderful recordings. I was also going to suggest that the recordings of the J were between Salem and Elliston.

For the third recording of the A on a coal train assisted by a Y6, I’m thinking this is between Bonsack and Blue Ridge. The A’s would occasionally be used on the Montvale Turn, which would take cuts of 100-car coal trains to be set off at Montvale to be split between the next two tidewater bound coal trains. The Y6 pusher would be cut-off on the fly just east of the Blue Ridge station while the lead A would take the train solo the rest of the way to Montvale and return light to Roanoke.

Sincerely,
Joseph Congemi
Cell Phone: 404-374-2370
Email: jmcongemi at comcast.net

> On Nov 24, 2025, at 7:13 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> Eli,
> 
> Thank you for sharing these recordings with the list! Audio archives are so rare and yet so valuable. They are like a time-machine. Will there be more to come?
> 
> Here are my thoughts re: N&W From Salem 1 file.
> 
> "from Salem" is extremely helpful.
> 
> I happened to have a April 1952 NW public timetable nearby and reviewed a few train schedules. Your recordings were probably made a few years later than '52. Never the less the timetable shows that no 'named' N&W or SOU trains stopped (or even Flag stopped) at Elliston in 1952. The same is true in an Oct.1957 timetable.
> 
> If westbound from Salem, this recording is most likely on board Train 9, the Local between Roanoke and Bristol. This train was discontinued 12.31.1957. It could also be Train 23 which was discontinued in mid 1955 depending on the date of the recording. The timetable shows 20 minutes for Train 9 from Salem to Elliston (Train 23 = 21 minutes) which matches your recording nicely. Elliston is the next westbound stop after departing Salem and is listed as a Flag stop for both trains.
> 
> However, timetables also show eastbound trains taking approximately 20 minutes to go from Salem to Roanoke (next stop), which also matches your recording nicely. So which direction is correct?
> 
> The mileages are as follows:
> 
> Salem to Elliston 13.15 miles
> Salem to Roanoke 6.85 miles
> 
> So the train's average speed from a Start to Stop with a recorded time of 19.2 minutes would be 41 mph Salem to Elliston, 21 mph Salem to Roanoke. Based on these averages I believe the train must be westbound because the recorded sound definitely isn't averaging 21 mph.
> 
> I notated the times when the engineer blew for grade crossings and went to a Jan. 1958 track chart. The whistle signals on your recording matches the crossings very nicely between Salem and Elliston. There are a lot of track sounds toward the end of this recording. This may be due the middle-track passing siding and numerous other turnouts near the station in Elliston.
> 
> This is a wonderful recording! Thanks again for sharing.
> 
> I hope this helps and I look forward to 'sleuthing' the next two files you shared.
> 
> John Garner, Newport, VA
> 
> 
> ___________________________________________________
> 
> 
> Hello list,
> 
> 
> 
> Yesterday I remastered three reels of N&W steam audio from the collection
> of Kenneth Gear. Link below:
> 
> 
> 
> https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IinBl8dGyqwavF_73ZNNePkZVNHgjshS?usp=sharing
> 
> 
> 
> The reason I’m posting about this is because I need help identifying
> details about these recordings that are not explicitly mentioned on the
> tape boxes. Two of the three files in the folder I linked are on-train
> recordings. The boxes for these reels were simply labeled “N&W” and “N&W
> from Salem”. Below are some written details/observations about these two
> tapes:
> 
> 
> 
> The reel marked “from Salem” starts with a class J 4-8-4 likely departing
> Salem, Virginia. The engine quickly accelerates and runs at high speed
> continuously for about 19 minutes. The reel ends with the engine stopping
> at the next station. My guess is that the train is the Cavalier, though
> I’ve no idea which direction it’s heading. My question is, which station
> was next after Salem and did the Cavalier have to run for a long distance
> to reach said station?
> 
> The next reel opens as the train is accelerating out of what I can only
> assume is the station which ended the first reel. As the engine climbs
> upgrade, a Time Freight likely powered by an A drifts downgrade and rushes
> passed the microphone. The J runs continuously for about 7 minutes before
> stopping at the next station. The recording stops, then starts again as the
> engine again departs with pop valve going full blast. The engine continues
> its journey for the next 9 minutes, going through a few tunnels along the
> way. The reel ends midway through the engine’s run.
> 
> The third reel, labeled “N&W 1221 & 2144”, begins with A #1221 accelerating
> a coal extra out of an unknown location as a thunderstorm is rolling in. Y6
> #2144 is the helper. My question for this recording is, at which points
> east or west of Blue Ridge did A’s handle coal extras without a Y6 lead
> engine, but with a pusher at the rear? Such info may give us a better idea
> of where this recording was made.
> 
> 
> 
> If anyone here can take a listen to the files I linked and provide further
> insight, that would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> 
> 
> Eli Santin
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