Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

What's the best train song?

3397 views
74 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
What's the best train song?
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 20, 2004 11:58 PM
there are plenty out there. However, in my opinion "Driver 8" by R.E.M. captures the subtle imagery of train travel and tells the story of an overworked engineer going down the tracks from town to town...."here the bells ring again".

I model the Southern Ry. which ties in perfect with this song. I also hail from the great state of Georgia (UGA alum) thus I guess you could say I am biased on this topic.

The Southern Serves the South!!!!
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Beautiful BC
  • 897 posts
Posted by krump on Sunday, November 21, 2004 12:07 AM
I've been workin' on the Railroad (public domain)

and, as my kids say...

Little Rabbit Choo Choo, hoppin' through the forest, picking up the field mice and bopping 'em on the head ...

Slow Train Coming - Bob Dylan

cheers, krump

 "TRAIN up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" ... Proverbs 22:6

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 12:14 AM
SO many train songs out there... so many great ones. A few:

"Folsom Prison Blues", Johnny Cash: ("I hear that train a-comin'.....")

"Desperadoes Waiting For A Train", Guy Clark.

"Casey Jones", Grateful Dead.

"The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore", June Carter Cash.

"Mystery Train", Elvis Presley.

"Fast Train To Georgia", Billy Joe Shaver.

"City Of New Orleans", Steve Goodman (and a million others).

"Paradise", John Prine. ("Mr. Peabody's coal-train has hauled it away...")
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 12:20 AM
Driving that train, high on cocaine,
Casey Jones YOU BETTER, watch your speed.
Trouble ahead, trouble behind,
And you know that notion just crossed my mind.

This old engine makes it on time,
Leaves Central Station 'bout a quarter to nine,
Hits River Junction at seventeen to,
At a quarter to ten you know it's DRIVIN' again.

Driving that train, high on cocaine,
Casey Jones YOU BETTER, watch your speed.
Trouble ahead, trouble behind,
And you know that notion just crossed my mind.

Trouble ahead, Lady in red,
Take my advice you'd be better off dead.
Switchman's sleeping, train hundred and two is
On the wrong track and headed for you.

Driving that train, high on cocaine,
Casey Jones YOU BETTER, watch your speed.
Trouble ahead, YOU KNOW, trouble behind,
And you know that notion just crossed my mind.

Trouble with you is the trouble with me,
Got two good eyes but WE still don't see.
Come round the bend, you know it's the end,
The fireman screams and the engine just gleams...

Driving that train, high on cocaine,
Casey Jones YOU BETTER, watch your speed.
Trouble ahead, trouble behind,
And you know that notion just crossed my mind.

Driving that train, high on cocaine,
Casey Jones YOU BETTER, watch your speed.
Trouble ahead, trouble behind,
And you know that notion just crossed my mind.

Driving that train, high on cocaine,
Casey Jones you better watch your speed.
Trouble ahead, you know, trouble behind.
And you know that notion just crossed my mind.

Driving that train, high on cocaine,
Casey Jones you better watch your speed.
Trouble ahead, you know, trouble behind.
And you know that notion just crossed my mind.

And you know that notion just crossed my mind
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Missouri
  • 369 posts
Posted by MudHen_462 on Sunday, November 21, 2004 12:26 AM
How about Marty Robbins singing "A Man Is Like A Train"... the theme song from the movie: Emperor Of The North starring Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine.

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Ridgeville,South Carolina
  • 1,294 posts
Posted by willy6 on Sunday, November 21, 2004 12:47 AM
Train..........by "Blackfoot"
Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 3:48 AM
Pure Parie Leauge Kanas City Southern
MAN O MAN CAN'T YOU HEAR THAT LONESOME SOUND
Well I set and watch those trains go by
and I wish
That I was Southward bound.
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: the Netherlands
  • 1,883 posts
Posted by lupo on Sunday, November 21, 2004 3:53 AM
Jumping Someone Elses Train
a song by The Cure ( has a nice video as well )
L [censored] O
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Maine
  • 392 posts
Posted by roadrat on Sunday, November 21, 2004 5:45 AM
How about that Willy Nelson song I think it's called the city of New Orleans or something , Alot of people don't even know that the song is about a train.
but if you listen to the words its about a passenger train.


bill
No good deed goes unpunished.
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Peoria IL
  • 490 posts
Posted by cspmo on Sunday, November 21, 2004 6:29 AM
one after 909 Beatles
Brian
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Ohio
  • 1,615 posts
Posted by Virginian on Sunday, November 21, 2004 7:29 AM
Wreck of the Old 97 - Bill Monroe
Golden Rocket - Hank Snow
City of New Orleans - Arlo Guthrie
Wabash Cannonball - various
What could have happened.... did.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • 2,124 posts
Posted by fec153 on Sunday, November 21, 2004 7:47 AM
Midnight Special ---- Harry Belafonte
Flip
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 1:12 PM
Choo Choo Ch'boogie- Louis Jordan and his Tympani Five
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 4,115 posts
Posted by tatans on Sunday, November 21, 2004 2:00 PM
Pardon me Roy, Is that the cat that chewed your new shoes ( OH , sorry ,that's the joke) I mean Chatanooga Choo Choo.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 2:00 PM
Nighttrain by GNR
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Mexico
  • 2,629 posts
Posted by egmurphy on Sunday, November 21, 2004 3:28 PM
"Long Twin Silver Line" - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (from the 'Against the Wind' album)



Regards

Ed

The Rail Images Page of Ed Murphy "If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." - James Michener
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
  • 4,240 posts
Posted by Fergmiester on Sunday, November 21, 2004 5:10 PM
What! No Box Car Willie..... For Shame!

Actually the Canadian Railway Trilogy is a true classic and for those who haven't heard it before you have been deprived. I would put it up in the same category as Miss American Pie.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 5:13 PM
I also live in Georgia and was big fan of REM in college. Driver 8 is very good but I like Downbound Train & Land of Hope and Dreams - both by Bruce Springsteen.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Elmwood Park, NJ
  • 2,385 posts
Posted by trainfan1221 on Sunday, November 21, 2004 6:20 PM
I love music, and I love trains, but I never cared for combining the two. I am referring to the more traditional songs, and stuff like John Denvers train album. I am a big fan of both Bruce songs of course, they just happen to be train related and not a so called standard. I also like "Southern Pacific" by Neil Young and "runaway Train" by Soul Asylum.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 6:22 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

What! No Box Car Willie..... For Shame!

Actually the Canadian Railway Trilogy is a true classic and for those who haven't heard it before you have been deprived. I would put it up in the same category as Miss American Pie.


GREAT call, Fergmiester... Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" is a great song, and a great tale. If you ask me, it should be Canada's national anthem. (Although "O, Canada" is a pretty terrific tune.)
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 6:35 PM
I don't know if it is the right name but "The train kept rolling all night long"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Dallas, GA
  • 2,643 posts
Posted by TrainFreak409 on Sunday, November 21, 2004 6:41 PM
Here are my favorites:

"The Locomotion" by Grand Funk Railroad. Very good skating song, I love roller skating to it. The beat just gets your wheels moving.

"Wreck of the Old 97" by Johnny Cash. Great song, what else can I say?

"The Gallopin' Goose" by C. W. McCall. You can guess what it's about. Not many people seem to know about this song.

I don't like the song where Casey Jones is supposedly high on cocane, it sickens me.

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 7:11 PM
One of my favorites is "Raised by the RR Line" by the NS Lawmen.
They also do a great job on "City of New Orleans."
gtirr
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 8:36 PM
I'd realy have to agree with " egmurphy " on this one. The "Long Twin Silver Line" By Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band! Is truelly an awesome song that tells a story ! The "Against the Wind" Album that this song is on was released in 1980 & is one of my all time favorites.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 21, 2004 8:58 PM
All the songs on Railroad Tycoon II are pretty good. I know I sound crazy [:D]. Just don't think I'm stupid [:D].
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: indiana
  • 792 posts
Posted by joseph2 on Sunday, November 21, 2004 9:16 PM
Wabash Cannonball and Rock Island LIne
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Louisville,Ky.
  • 5,077 posts
Posted by locomutt on Sunday, November 21, 2004 9:32 PM
There are a "bunch" of train songs out there;All Good.[:)]
I believe my favorite song would be "City Of New Orleans",
as sung by Arlo Guthrie,and also John Denver.
And the favorite album,is John Denver's "All Aboard".[:D]

Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Out on the Briny Ocean Tossed
  • 4,240 posts
Posted by Fergmiester on Monday, November 22, 2004 6:36 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by HODude

All the songs on Railroad Tycoon II are pretty good. I know I sound crazy [:D]. Just don't think I'm stupid [:D].


I didn't even consider those but your right they are pretty nifty and make for an even better game.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, November 22, 2004 8:09 AM
I can't believe none of our Great White North friends have mentioned "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" by Gordon Lightfoot.
Or are you trying to deny his existence? [:D]

--Randy

Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 22, 2004 8:27 AM
All of them, except the one's with drug connotations. Grateful Dead tunes cheated
alot of my generation.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!