Vintage JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit" Radio Drama Tapes Found on Railway Line

Vintage recordings of JRR Tolkien's novel "The Hobbit", specifically a BBC radio drama on cassette, have been discovered on a railway line. The four cassettes were found buried at the base of an overhead line mast on the Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle.

The Discovery

Rob Cochrane, Head of infrastructure works delivery for operator Nexus, made the discovery during a routine inspection of the track between Chillingham Road and Walkergate.

Cochrane described it as an an "incredible find."

The tapes featured "The Hobbit" written in black lettering on their gold front covers.

David Punton, Nexus communications officer, stated that most of the tapes are still functional after listening to them. He characterized the discovery as "baffling" and advised the public not to approach railway lines or hide items in such a manner.

Background: "The Hobbit" and Its Adaptations

"The Hobbit", a novel preceding The Lord of the Rings, was first published in 1937 and has sold over 100 million copies globally. The story follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins.

An adaptation of the novel was initially broadcast on Radio 4 in 1968, with a cassette box set released two decades later. The unearthed tapes are reportedly available for sale on online auction sites, typically priced between £10 and £20.