All Aboard! How Train Sound Effects Enhance Storytelling in Film and TV

7 Ways Train Sound Effects Are Used in Visual Storytelling

Let’s have a look at the way train sounds have been used in cinema over the years to support the mood and pace of a scene.

1. Lone Ranger: The sound of freight trains in an action film

This action scene from The Lone Ranger is accompanied by a rich layer of foley. We hear the sound of railroad workers pounding away alongside dramatic horn music. As the scene approaches its climax, the music drops entirely and a sequence of wrenching sounds play while the diesel train comes crashing off the rails. It’s powerful visually, but the audio really helps build up adrenaline and hold the attention of the audience.

This mechanical sounds of the train are humanized by the sound of workers screaming as they dodging the crashing train. Creaky wheels and heavy thuds emphasize the freight train’s weight, underscoring the scene’s importance in the film.

2. Train to Busan: Beeping, Swooshing, and Humming Bullet Train Sounds

The beep and whoosh of closing doors at a train station usually carries pleasant associations. However, it’s interesting to think about how the same sounds can be used in a film like Train to Busan to evoke feelings of anxiety. The gentle closing sounds magnify a sense of looming dread because of what lies inside the passenger train. Moments of silence and white noise are often used to achieve the same effect.

3. Westworld: Steam train whistle, character dialogue, and ambient chugging sounds

It’s not all zombies and train robbers though. A train can represent personal transformation for a character. It’s a quiet space where people seek a moment of refuge from the world. For this reason, important conversations and moments of introspection often take place here.

The show Westworld uses train scenes to mark the beginning and ending of a journey for one of its characters. Inside the railcar, one character tells another “You think you have a handle on what this is going to be…but you have no idea.” A steam train whistle sounds ominously to foreshadow the danger of the Westworld theme park.

Later in the series, the same character is on a steam train wit his lover, traveling in the opposite direction. Subtle sounds of rattling and rumbling make an ambient bed for a new conversation. The dialogue marks a moment where the journey of self-discovery and transformation has reached maturity.

4. Unstoppable: Doppler effects and wooden collision sounds

In this thrilling action scene, veteran railroad engineer Frank races against time to avoid a deadly collision with a rouge locomotive carrying hazardous chemicals. The two trains are due to meet at a railroad crossing and narrowly miss each other.

As the dangerous train passes by, we hear a blaring horn sound effect that warns of imminent danger. Frank narrowly dodges the main cabs of the train, but collides with the final wooden carriage and smashes it to pieces. The intense collision offers some relief and catharsis to the audience, who gets their climactic explosion sound along with the satisfaction of a crisis averted.

5. Inception: The sound of locomotives crashing into metal cars

The iconic train collision scene from Inception is surreal and takes on a symbolic role, representing the main character’s inner turmoil. We’re reminded that the characters are not in control of their dream world.

Here we find a train that’s quite literally gone “off the rails” as it rolls violently through a city street. The bumping, scraping, and smashing sounds mirror the cognitive dissonance in the character’s mind.

6. The Polar Express: Rumbling arrivals and quiet departures 

The Polar Express is an animated holiday movie that captures the wonder and excitement of Christmas. Throughout the film, we hear the steady presence of steam train sounds. In the scene below, the train rumbles aggressively on arrival. Later when the character gets onboard, a passenger door slides open quietly and the train chugs forward as it departs, with small creaks and squeals for ambient effect.

Arrival and departure scenes often feature different foley and volume levels, depending on the scenes that come before and after. Loud train sounds imply a build towards a crescendo, while quiet sounds help the audience focus on subtler themes.

7. The Fugitive: Braking and Exploding Train Sounds

In The Fugitive, we find another variant of the doomed train theme. This time, the train wheels grind against their metal tracks and we hear the squeak of failing brakes. They foreshadow the danger that the protagonist will continue to face as he runs from the law.

As the train draws closer, tension mounts and intensifies the life-and-death urgency of the situation. When it finally crashes, a carriage uncouples and careens off the tracks. The sound of metal scraping across the ground makes the scene even more intense and visceral.

Creating your own train sounds with household items

Working in Foley involves creatively replicating everyday sounds for film and audio projects. Train sounds can be particularly challenging, but with some ingenuity, you can create convincing mechanical chugging, steam noises, and track sounds. Here’s a guide on how to achieve these effects using household items and simple techniques.

1. Mechanical Chugging Sounds

• Using a Door Knob:
  • Technique:
    • Twist a door knob back and forth rhythmically to mimic the mechanical chugging of a train. Start slowly and gradually increase the speed to simulate gaining momentum.
  • Recording Tips:
    • Use a close microphone placement to capture the detailed mechanical sounds.
    • Record multiple takes at different speeds to provide a variety of chugging rhythms.

2. Noisy Steam Sounds

• Using Your Hands:
  • Technique:
    • Rub your hands together in a rhythmic motion to create a noisy steam sound. Vary the intensity and speed to mimic different steam releases.
  • Recording Tips:
    • Use a sensitive condenser microphone to capture the subtle nuances of the sound.
    • Experiment with different hand motions and pressure to achieve the desired steam effect.

3. Wheels on the Track

• Using Small Objects on Hard Surfaces:
  • Objects to Use:
    • Marble, coin, spoon, or similar small, hard objects.
  • Technique:
    • Rub the object on a hard surface like a tabletop or a piece of metal to mimic the sound of train wheels on the track. Move the object rhythmically to simulate the rolling and clattering of wheels.
  • Recording Tips:
    • Close-mic the surface to capture the detailed scraping and rolling sounds.
    • Experiment with different surfaces and objects to find the most realistic wheel-on-track sound.

4. Train Whistles

• Wooden Train Whistles:
  • Availability:
    • Wooden train whistles are inexpensive and readily available online, often shipping the same day.
  • Using the Whistle:
    • Blow into the wooden train whistle to create a classic train whistle sound. Vary the intensity and duration of the blow to mimic different types of whistles.
• Steam Whistles:
  • Challenges:
    • Steam whistles are harder to come by but can add an authentic steam train sound.
  • Alternatives:
    • If a steam whistle isn’t available, consider using recordings of horns from big rig trucks, construction sites, and other industrial locations.

Tips for Effective Train Sound Foley

• Layering Sounds: Combine multiple recordings (e.g., mechanical chugging, steam sounds, and wheel noises) to create a rich, realistic train soundscape.
• EQ and Compression: Use EQ to shape the sounds and remove any unwanted frequencies. Apply compression to control dynamics and ensure the sounds sit well together in the mix.
• Reverb and Ambience: Add reverb and ambient noise to place the sounds in a realistic environment. This can help simulate the acoustics of a train station or open countryside.
• Experimentation: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different objects and recording techniques. Foley work is all about creativity and finding unique ways to replicate sounds.

By following these steps and tips, you can create a convincing and dynamic set of train sounds for your Foley projects. Experiment with different materials and techniques to achieve the most realistic and engaging train sound effects.

Assembling your own collection of ambient train sounds

If you’re working on a video project and need a place to organize your sound design workflow, Audio Design Desk is the way to go. The DAW comes with over 70,000 sounds, including a broad collection of train sound effects in high-fidelity WAV format. If you didn’t get around to it yet, scroll back up to the top page and have a listen to the royalty-free SFX in our embedded audio player. You can download and use them in any video project.