Steamsounds

This disk chronicles the running of the Scarborough Spa Express through the 1980s beginning with the first trains to do the full route in 1982 and ending with the last SSEs to run in the 20th Century in 1988.
As well as over 150 recordings with a playing time of almost 12 hours, the disk contains detailed, descriptive notes. In addition there are also complete timing records for some years as well as a route description with a map and gradient profiles. This really is a complete record.
As I had so many recordings to include, unlike my other mp3 disks, the recordings on this disk are encoded at 128 kbps which is still CD quality.
You can transfer them straight to your mp3 player or play them direct from the disks using your web browser and the included html pages which include comprehensive, illustrated notes about each track. The notes are also included as printable Adobe Reader files.

Scarborough Spa Express in the 80s mp3 disk
This disk chronicles the running of the Scarborough Spa Express through the 1980s beginning with the first trains to do the full route in 1982 and ending with the last SSEs to run in the 20th Century in 1988. As well as over 150 recordings with a playing time of almost 12 hours, the disk contains detailed, descriptive notes. In addition there are also complete timing records for some years as well as a route description with a map and gradient profiles. This really is a complete record. As I had so many recordings to include, unlike my other mp3 disks, the recordings on this disk are encoded at 128 kbps which is still CD quality. You can transfer them straight to your mp3 player or play them direct from the disks using your web browser and the included html pages which include comprehensive, illustrated notes about each track. The notes are also included as printable Adobe Reader files.
To hear some short, CD quality samples of the tracks from this disk click the buttons below.

Track Lists and Samples
1982 This was the first year that we had 'proper' Scarborough Spa Expresses running the full route, out from York via Harrogate and Leeds then back through York and on to Scarborough with the same route taken on the return. 212 miles of steam at a very cheap price. There was plenty of scope for performance as well as noise on these trains but, from the point of view of performance, we didn't get the kind of runs that were to come in later years. We did get some good noise though as you can hear in this of 5305 climbing towards Harrogate.	Read detailed notes about the recordings

1983 Following the success of the first season of Scarborough Spa Expresses we had exactly the same programme in place for another 22 trains to run between mid-July and the August Bank Holiday weekend, the dates being designed to coincide with the School Summer Holidays. We had started to get to know the who's, who among the York drivers and which of them might be encouraged to do a bit more than was strictly required for time keeping. A quick chat to whoever took over the 'Evening Circle' at York could work wonders such as you can hear in this of 92220 during a high speed climb from Leeds to Horsforth.	Read detailed notes about the recordings

1984 If 1983 had been pretty good, 1984 was remarkable. The enthusiasm among some of the loco crews along with the co-operation of some of the loco inspectors provided us with some amazing performances including a 27 minute run from York to Leeds with 5305 one evening. Here's a short . That's one steam hauled run I'll never forget!	Read detailed notes about the recordings

1985 The operation of these trains changed in 1985 with the use of two locomotives each day, one to cover the morning and evening circles and another to run from York to Scarborough and back. There had been a change of Area Manager in York since the 1984 season and, what with steam not being popular with the higher echelons in BR management making it a wise move not to be too enthusiastic for staff wishing to get promotion, the cynics amongst us felt that this was probably just an excuse to increase the running costs so that the trains would prove uneconomic and could be scrapped after this year. While I can’t be sure that that our cynical view was justified, sadly, this proved all too true and this was the last year that BR ran 'proper' SSEs on a regular basis. Once again, thanks to the enthusiastic York crews we had some fine runs. Here's a of 777 beginning on the climb to Horsforth.	Read detailed notes about the recordings

1986-1988 It was never quite the same after 1985 with fewer trains mainly running between York and Scarborough only. We did have a few variations on that though including a few runs with Mallard. Here's a of 4468 on the inaugural train for 1986.	Read detailed notes about the recordings

Locomotive performance and the route As well as the recordings and notes the disk also includes complete timing records for some years with details of some record runs. There is also a description of the route and gradient profiles.