Coal train
Mar 25, 2020, 09:05 AM
Australian lockdown sounds recorded by Dean W. Denham.
"This is the coal train that comes through Toowoomba; Australia's largest rural city, 2 hours drive west of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. Big industry, like the coal industry, keeps running while the "unessential" businesses have had to shut down. Despite the climate crisis, Australia still invests heavily in coal.
"A lot of people, particularly the younger people, have not been practising social distancing so the beaches and pubs and clubs have been forced to close. People are hoarding food and other items so I feel bad for the elderly who can't get basic necessities and are alone. Queensland has closed its borders, along with several other Australian states.
"I am here from Melbourne, Victoria, about 1800kms away, visiting my long-distance partner and it may be quite some time before I can go home and see my children. At least Victoria has closed the schools. The rest of the country is saying you can send your kids to school if you want to.
"I'm 57 years old and though that's not particularly old I still feel like I'm in a fairly high risk category, so, like many, I am trying to avoid contact with others and spend most of my time inside. I feel very sorry for people working in the medical profession and also very grateful!
"The sound of the coal train is very haunting, particularly at night which is when this was recorded from the kitchen window. It comes into town down the west side of the valley from the north, pulled by two big diesel engines, makes a huge 180 degree turn near town and heads back up the east side of the valley.
"The squeal of the wheels on the turn is truly remarkable, and a little scary. These are scary times. Things will get worse before they get better. Be safe. Be kind. Stay strong."
Part of the #StayHomeSounds project, documenting the sounds of the global coronavirus lockdown around the world - for more information, see http://www.citiesandmemory.com/covid19-sounds
"This is the coal train that comes through Toowoomba; Australia's largest rural city, 2 hours drive west of Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia. Big industry, like the coal industry, keeps running while the "unessential" businesses have had to shut down. Despite the climate crisis, Australia still invests heavily in coal.
"A lot of people, particularly the younger people, have not been practising social distancing so the beaches and pubs and clubs have been forced to close. People are hoarding food and other items so I feel bad for the elderly who can't get basic necessities and are alone. Queensland has closed its borders, along with several other Australian states.
"I am here from Melbourne, Victoria, about 1800kms away, visiting my long-distance partner and it may be quite some time before I can go home and see my children. At least Victoria has closed the schools. The rest of the country is saying you can send your kids to school if you want to.
"I'm 57 years old and though that's not particularly old I still feel like I'm in a fairly high risk category, so, like many, I am trying to avoid contact with others and spend most of my time inside. I feel very sorry for people working in the medical profession and also very grateful!
"The sound of the coal train is very haunting, particularly at night which is when this was recorded from the kitchen window. It comes into town down the west side of the valley from the north, pulled by two big diesel engines, makes a huge 180 degree turn near town and heads back up the east side of the valley.
"The squeal of the wheels on the turn is truly remarkable, and a little scary. These are scary times. Things will get worse before they get better. Be safe. Be kind. Stay strong."
Part of the #StayHomeSounds project, documenting the sounds of the global coronavirus lockdown around the world - for more information, see http://www.citiesandmemory.com/covid19-sounds