Side Hustle School Ep. 3145 - First $1,000: Ambient Train Noise Finds Global Audience
Aug 11, 2025
A train sound enthusiast turned their passion for ambient railway recordings into a thriving digital product for sleep and meditation. Their journey showcases the potential of niche markets and how a simple hobby can become a profitable side hustle. Despite minimal promotion, impressive sales followed, highlighting innovative marketing strategies. Listeners are inspired to explore their own hobbies for lucrative opportunities.
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Trainspotting As A Lifelong Hobby
- Peter recorded field railway sounds across the Midwest, Japan, Germany, and the UK.
- He relaxed by setting up a mic near tracks and capturing live trains.
From Forum Discovery To Product
- Peter saw Reddit users asking for long, clean train recordings and realized he already had high-quality files.
- He edited six tracks in Audacity with light EQ and noise reduction and exported WAV and MP3 versions.
Simple Launch, Steady Early Sales
- Peter uploaded the Railway Sleep Pack to Gumroad for $12 with a simple description and personal note about field recordings.
- He shared the link in niche communities and reached $1,000 in revenue by day 33 without heavy marketing.