Bruckner and trains

[ppppenguin]

Tenuous references:

http://www.philpacey.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/musrail.html
http://www.abruckner.com/downloads/Other...theantonb/
http://uk.railway.narkive.com/iERKcJPt/c...in-spotter

There was a programme on Radio 3 probably nearly 20 years ago that

examined the influence of railways on Bruckner's music. The opening
horns of the 4th symphony were said to be inspired by the sound of the
banker and train locomotive whistling to each other as they ascended
the Semmering incline on a misty morning; and Bruckner was said to have
been an admirer of Brunel's broad gauge, making a point of visiting
Paddington while on a concert tour in London.

Actually it was a hoax (originally intended for broadcast on April 1,
but re-scheduled!) but a very plausible one. Bruckner had rather a
trainspotter personality (he is said to have been rather childlike and
had a compulsion to count things), and his symphonies could perhaps
aptly be described as broad-gauge.

I only discovered it was a hoax when idly reading through the SLS
Journal one day in the library; a contributer had listened to the
programme and, smelling a rat, enquired to the BBC who admitted their
guilt.