Excellent recordings Fergal - glad you had the same enthusiasm as me back in the day :) YV-187CP particularly nice visitor, and I like the ATC comments at the end about the Presidential visit :)

Miscellaneous recordings, mostly of Dublin ATC, from June 1984 to March 1985. These individual recordings were made on different dates.
In order, the following are heard:
Air Force 1 VC-137C serial 72-7000 departing Dublin for LHR
MAC1908 C-141B Starlifter departing Dublin for Dieppe
A214 Alouette III
SAM26000 VC-137C serial 62-6000
Nighthawk 1 Flight (two “Marine 1” VH-3Ds departing for the UK)
PA8254 DC-10-30 of Pan Am (POTUS Press Plane)
Nighthawk 3 CH-53 of the USAF
BR245 DC-10 of BCAL
G-BDXC Boeing 747 of BA from Dublin to LHR
G-BEOZ AW650 Argosy crew-training at Shannon
CU881 An-24 CU-T881 of Cubana inbound to Dublin
LONER1 F-16 of the USAF departing from Dublin after an airshow at Baldonnel
FA380 Patrouille de France Alpha Jets
G-AVMR BAC 1-11 of British Airways
RR3222 HS125 of the RAF inbound to Dublin
Italian AF 2012 DC-9 MM62012 of the Italian Air Force
G-AWZK Trident 3B of British Airways
Air Ecosse 912 EMB-110 Bandeirance of Air Ecosse
Bold Gannet 6601 C-130K inbound to Belfast Aldergrove
Italian AF 2013 DC9-32 MM62013
N1823D Gulfstream II of Champion Spark Plugs
EI158 Boeing 737-200 of Aer Lingus
A6-HHM Boeing 727-200 of the UAE Govt.
EI615 Boeing 737 Aer Lingus
COOT64 C-130 USAF inbound to RAF Abingdon
EI-BEE Boeing 737 of Aer Lingus
N65 Sabreliner of the FAA
MAC38085 C-141B Starlifter
EI-ASO Boeing 707 of Aer Lingus
EI643 BAC 1-11 of Aer Lingus 
EI109 Boeing 747 of Aer Lingus, to Shannon
TP8443 Boeing 707 of Air Portugal 
RR4645 C-130K receiving oceanic clearance to Gander
N4565L DC-3 inbound to Dublin from Palma de Mallorca
N357H Lockheed JetStar of Heinz Corporation
YS-08C Boeing 737-200 of TACA El Salvador
N600CS Boeing 707
EI-BKT Bell 206
Ireland Aid 1 Boeing 737 of Guinness Peat Aviation
EI-BGP Cessna 414A of Iona Airways to LHR
EI-ASL Boeing 737 of Aer Lingus
AC597 DC-8F of Air Canada, querying status of the Eagle Island VOR (EGL) in Co. Mayo
Irish Air Corps 238 HS125 to Northolt
SAM24129 Boeing VC-135B of the USAF
EI-BKT Bell 206 Jet Ranger
QT109 CL-44J EI-BGO of Aer Turas
EI-ASH Boeing 737 of Aer Lingus departing for the USA on a winter lease
CAM515 CC-130 of the Canadian Armed Forces departure to Goose Bay
3X-GCH Boeing 727 of Air Guinée
NP830 Short Belfast of HeavyLift
EI9107 DC-8F (hire-in from a US operator)
Airevac 50269 C-141B Starlifter
BA864 BAC 1-11 of British Airways
AXI602 CL-44-D4 of Air Express International
CAM1200 CC-144 Challenger of the Canadian Armed Forces
NP843 Short Belfast of HeavyLift
JL1406 DC-10-40 JA8545 of Japan Airlines
Irish Air Corps 238 HS125
R205 Cessna FR172H Irish Air Corps

Irish Air Traffic Control 1984-1985

Miscellaneous recordings, mostly of Dublin ATC, March to June 1984. These individual recordings were made on different dates.

In order, the following are heard:

5N-ANZ Boeing 737 of Nigeria Airways on an air-test
EI-BHO Sikorsky S-61N of Irish Helicopters
EI-BEK Short 360 Aer Lingus Commuter
SAM30500 C-20 (Gulfstream III) of the USAF
MAC80220 C-5A Galaxy
EI-BMK Cessna 310Q of Iona Airways
AK933 V953F Merchantman
BR254 DC-10 of BCAL
FM0004 Falcon 20 of the French AF
N4565L DC-3A of Hibernian Dakota Flight (arriving on delivery from Argentina)
OO-SXE EMB121 Xingu of Sabena/Belgian Aviation School
N131WT Falcon 20
A197 Alouette III, Irish Air Corps
AF3305 Caravelle of Europe Aero Service, operating for Air France
EI-BGL RC690 Turbo Commander (Arthur Wignall on r/t)
G-BGOP Falcon 20
EI-BIN Cessna 152
G-BAXL HS125
BA820 Boeing 737-200 of British Airways
G-BHLI RC690 Turbo Commander
EI198 Short 360 Aer Lingus Commuter
Navy 31576 Douglas C-118B (DC-6A) US Navy working Santa Maria Radio on HF; serial 131576
Navy 50496 VP-3A Orion US Navy (CINCLANT) working Santa Maria Radio on HF; serial 150496
RTE TV News Report of death of pilot Arthur Wignall, whose Pitts EI-BKA had crashed on 1 April 1984
EI-BNK Cessna
JOYCE16 C-130 USAF
EI-BNN Short Skyvan, Shannon Executive Aviation
EI-BEO Cessna 310, Iona Airways
EI-ASI Boeing 747 Aer Lingus
HI283 Caravelle of Hispania
SN634 Boeing 737-200 of SABENA
NP825 Short Belfast of HeavyLift, Dublin to Brize Norton
N102ME BAC 1-11
EI-BDY Boeing 737-200 of Aer Lingus
G-BIKH Boeing 757 of British Airways
N435M Learjet Dublin to Cork
N150BA Beech 200
BA821 Trident of British Airways
G-AVFN Trident 2E of British Airways
HF686 Airbus A300 of Hapag-Lloyd
Hubbardair 001A Cessna 404 of Hubbardair
IB741 Boeing 727 of Iberia
G-BJFK Short 330 Dublin to Leeds-Bradford
MAC60161 C-141B Starlifter (serial 66-0161)
BX791 DC-8 Spantax
TP8443 Boeing 707 of Air Portugal
EI-BEL Short 360 of Aer Lingus Commuter
EI-AWW Cessna 411
EI-ASH Boeing 737 of Aer Lingus
YV-187CP Cessna 550 Citation 
EI9107 DC-8F operating for Aer Lingus
5N-AND Boeing 737-200 of Nigeria Airways
Northeaster 801 A300 of Northeastern International Airways on delivery

Traffic for visit of US President Ronald Reagan:
AGNEL(?) 04 E-4B (?) USAF
PA8254 DC-10-30 of Pan Am
F217 CM170 Magister, Irish Air Corps
SAM27000 VC-137C (72-7000) operating as AF1
Nighthawk 2 VH-3D of USMC (HMX-1)
Nighthawk 04 CH-53s USAF
MAC40618 C-141B Starlifter USAF (64-0618)Nighthawk 4 CH-53 USAF
Nighthawk 3 CH-53 USAF
A214 Alouette III Irish Air Corps
Marine 1 VH-3D USMC HMX-1
Nighthawk 2 VH-3D USMC
Fox Section CM170 Magisters of Irish Air Corps

Irish Air Traffic Control 1984

During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes. I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard :)

Here we have another 18 minutes of real-time recordings taken from the platform at London Paddington, departing Oxford, Reading and from the old footbridge at Southall. The sounds of no less than ten different Class 50s can be heard on various services. The sequence begins where we left off in my previous recording "Class 50 heaven 😎 the Paddington evening rush-hour - 31Mar1987" with me at the front window behind 50030 "Repulse" as I headed out from Paddington to Oxford - always quite a challenge for me to get a recording hanging out of the window with my ghetto blaster 😎;)

The cast in order of appearance: 50030 "Repulse", 50043 "Eagle", 50038 "Formidable", 50016 "Barham", 50023 "Howe", 50047 "Swiftsure", 50014 "Warspite", 50033 "Glorious", 50008 "Thunderer" and 50037 "Illustrious".

31st Mar 1987 - after recording eight of the Class during the evening rush-hour at Paddington, I had leapt aboard 1B56 to Hereford which was in the capable hands of 50030 "Repulse" - which I took as far as Oxford - taped leaving Paddington and getting 'gripped' by the guard soon after departure :) and then from the platform as the train departed Oxford.
Next, from the front window again, we hear 50043 "Eagle" departing Reading on return working 1F43 back to Paddington (with the sound of a westbound HST passing :)

Back a year to 9th May 1986, and 50038 "Formidable" is next up, from the platform at Paddington departing on 1M61. And then we have a short sequence of recordings from the trackside at Southall, with my ghetto blaster primed on the stairs of the footbridge as I took some photos. On 11th May 1986 we hear 50016 "Barham" on 1Cxx 14.45 Paddington-Plymouth - being a Sunday, there was some engineering on the line, so the recording is of the loco crossing the points from the Down Slow to the Down Fast, hence the slow speed which is evident in the recording. The photo of this one accompanies this SoundCloud recording 😎. Then we move forwards in time again to 16th Apr 1987 hearing 50023 "Howe" as she runs up to a red light on the Up Slow with a parcels train - this is closely followed by  50047 "Swiftsure" belting past with 1F18 Paddington - Oxford, followed by 50023 restarting and heading east with the parcels. Finally in this sequence, 50014 "Warspite" heads 1C39 - another service to Cornwall.

To close the sequence, we're back at Paddington again - on the same day as the Southall tracks, we hear 50038 "Formidable" after being released off the blocks light engine. 50033 "Glorious" then makes a vigorous start with 1F24 to Oxford, and 50038 returning light engine to work a later service. Finally, from 30th May 1987, 50008 "Thunderer" departs with 1B56 to Hereford with 50037 "Illustrious" being released off the blocks after bringing in 5F32 ECS.

So hoping you enjoy this blast from the past with ten of the fleet of Class 50s in action - edited from real-time recordings made by me in 1986 and 1987. Enjoy the thrash 😎 :)

Class 50 heaven 😎 Part Two - Paddington, Oxford, Reading, Southall (1986 - 1987)

Tees Tyne Boggard 
27th October 1984
Hertfordshire Railtours

Locomotives used: D200 (40122), 40181, 37263, 31222
__________________________________________________________
During the 1980s, I spent a lot of my time riding around the British Rail network, mainly chasing Class 40s and then Class 50s, but also seeing and riding behind a number of other classes. I made a number of tape recordings at the time - many from the front window, some from the platform - using my trusty 'ghetto-blaster' or 'boom box' - and now these recordings can finally be heard :)

There were also many fine rail tours back in the 1980s, and it was often possible to get haulage behind your favourite class and travel over rare track at the same time, as with this tour, and all for a modest outlay of £15-20. Happy days 😍

For this recording, we travel behind not one but two Class 40s - celebrity loco D200 (40122) paired up with 40181 on the Tees Tyne Boggard railtour. Before I list the tracks a proviso that some of the recordings are not the best quality - for some reason I chose to use a cheap ‘Living Sound’ compact cassette and this was compounded by using a fairly cheap portable tape recorder! I’ve made a note of the ‘woolly’ tracks below. However, listening to the full 60mins you can immerse yourself in reliving the experience of hanging out of a Mark 1 carriage window, microphone in hand, behind a pair of classic diesels 😎

PART ONE - OUTWARD LEG TO NEWCASTLE
Track 1	0m-2m		On the Bottesford curve and freight line heading for Newark
Track 2	2m-5m30s		Coming to a halt between Stockton and Norton Jnct. heading for Hartlepool
Track 3*	5m30s-6m30s	Locos running round the train at Hartlepool
Track 4*	6m30s-10m	Departing Hartlepool heading south to Norton Jnct. followed by a bit of thrash!
Track 5*	10m-13m		Traversing the freight line between Norton Jnct. and Ferryhill - signal stopped, then thrash, then signal stopped!
Track 6*	13m-18m		On the freight line between Penshaw and Pelaw Jnct.
Track 7*	18m-30m		Approaching Newcastle via the King Edward bridge - signal stopped - proceeding with caution - dog yapping - signal stopped

PART TWO - RETURN LEG FROM NEWCASTLE TO KING’S CROSS
Track 8	30m-49m30s	Leaving Newcastle south via the High Level bridge - passed Gateshead (listen to the spotter’s on the train at 40m and then the local youth at the lineside at 45m 😍) - past Tyne Yard and then some thrash :)
Track 9	49m30s-54m	Awaiting departure south at Doncaster (we were held for half an hour - the planned loco change never happened and the 40s went through to King’s Cross) - finally getting the green light, the driver goes for full thrash 😎
Track 10	54m-55m		Departure from Retford
Track 11	55m-57m		Departure from Grantham
Track 12	57m-59m		Departure from Peterborough

PART THREE - THE LEGENDARY LAST CLASS 40s OUT OF KING’S CROSS WITH 1H92 TO PETERBOROUGH
Track 13*	59m-61m		Departing King’s Cross through the tunnels (noise and bashers yelling)
Track 14*	61m-62m		Finale at Peterborough early hours with the locos detached and running through light engine…
(*impaired sound quality)

Timings gleaned from Six Bells Junction - more info on the tour here: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/841027hr.htm

Photo taken by me at Nottingham during a 15m stop on the outward leg.

And there we have it - not the perfect recording I would have liked, but a memento of a legendary railtour (and service train) saved for posterity 😎

Class 40 pair 40181+D200 on the Tees Tyne Boggard railtour 27th Oct 1984

In 1979 I acquired an old dictaphone from a bank (I’m guessing it was from the 60s as banks tend to hang on to their old equipment). Anyway, I didn’t really have a use for it at first, but then decided at some point to put it to work making recordings from my air band radio. This proved quite successful and I managed to capture a number of interesting and rare aircraft movements. I even went one step further and, when the planes were coming over my house on runway 23 approach, I combined the ATC recordings with the sound of the actual aircraft passing overhead (see my other recording here: https://soundcloud.com/sound-vision-10193594/aviation-archive-1?si=3f77de24555b4142bcc036001c18a372&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing). This recording consists of West Drayton ATC, Heathrow Tower and RAF Northolt approach, most of which I managed to observe from my home in Southall, West London. 

And now, for the first time in over 40 years, I can make these unique recordings available to the world for anyone who might be interested to hear  'live' Air Traffic Control from 1979 😍 - I hope they provide some interest and enjoyment!

Contents Guide

Track 1 - RAF Northolt approach & tower
BAF32 Belgian AF HS-748 CS-02 on PAR radar assisted approach to Runway 26

Track 02 - West Drayton ATC
N284JJ Falcon 20E into Heathrow approach to runway 28R (+ EI168 737, AU455 DC-9, PK783 747)
AY7204 Finnair DC-8 Heathrow runway 28L departure (+ OA2701)
BA188 BA Concorde Heathrow approach to runway 28R

Track 03 - RAF Northolt approach & tower
FM0520 Aeronavale Falcon 20 on PAR radar assisted approach to Runway 26 (+ yours truly narrating ;)
Husky99 R. Norwegian AF Falcon 20 0125 on PAR radar assisted approach to Runway 26 (+ yours truly narrating ;)
SPAR66A USAF C-12 on PAR radar assisted approach to Runway 26 (+ yours truly narrating ;)

Track 04 - West Drayton ATC
T.11.1 / 401-02 (EC-ZCJ) Spanish AF Falcon 20 Heathrow 28R approach & landing (+ yours truly narrating ;)
IAC234 234 Irish Air Corps Beech 200 Heathrow 28R approach & landing (+ various inc. Link2 helicopter shuttle to Gatwick) (+ yours truly narrating ;)
SV6326 Saudia VIP Gulfstream 2 Heathrow 28R approach & landing (+ various)
IAC234 234 Irish Air Corps Beech 200 Heathrow departure (West Drayton)
SAM24127 62-4127 USAF VIP Boeing C-135B of 89th Military Airlift Wing Heathrow 28R approach (+ various inc. G-CHEV)

Track 05 - RAF Northolt approach & tower
SWE78 Swedish AF Douglas C-47 (DC-3) 79008 on PAR radar assisted approach to Runway 26

more Aviation recordings to follow soon 😎 😇

Irish Air Traffic Control 1984

Shamrock100

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