What's your favorite train song?

[garyla]

Lots of votes here for "City of New Orleans," but I didn't see anyone mention Judy Collins' version.  If you've never heard it and you get a chance, check it out.  It's not a song you would especially pick for a female singer, but she did a GREAT job on it--my favorite--and I never was one of her big listeners.

I'd also vote for Johnny Cash's treatments of "Casey Jones," "Wreck of the Old 97" (live), and "Folsom Prison Blues" (live).  The last one was sort of a signature song for him; it was hard to top The Man in Black when he was singing about life behind bars.

[jon grant]

Another Jethro Tull song - Journeyman, from the Heavy Horses album

Jon

[Capt. Grimek]

Easy question: "Twilight on the Rails". It's an original I wrote which has gotten radio airplay on 125 NPR and University stations as well as some European stations. Favorable reviews in several international music magazines.
It's a "City of New Orleans-ish" mourning of the loss of the famous name/banner passenger trains.
My wife and I had a performing "Americana" folk-rock duo/band that played concert halls and regional festivals for 20 years. We still have a box or two of CDs and cassettes. Our styles ranged from Nautical to Country to Celtic to, well...railroadia!

I've often though of sending a copy to Arlo Guthrie's manager to see if he thinks Arlo could have a reprise hit! :-)

[route_rock]

DETHKLOCK!!!!!!!!! lol I got hooked on that show now. Forgot No leaf clover sheesh am losing it badly

[ArtOfRuin]

I remember once during 1st grade music class my teacher would play a game: He would play a song on the piano where the notes sound like something and you have to guess what the song's about. He sang a song whose lyrics start with "The Rock Island line/it's a mighty fine line..." and the music had a "locomotive" sound to it. I was the only one who guessed it was about a railroad.  

Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash

Night Train - Guns and Roses

Bring it on home - Led Zepplin

Train of Consequences - Megadeth

 

 

Great minds think alike!

Also:

Willie Nelson: City of New Orleans 

Aerosmith: Train Kept A Rollin' (live)

Dropkick Murphys: Skinhead on the MBTA

Dethklok: Murder Train A Comin'

Songs with train related lyrics (not neccesarily about trains):

Every Time I Die: InRihab ("I tied the devil to the tracks/[can you hear the train coming?]/And I tied the tracks in a lover's knot around the finger of a beautiful girl...")

Anthrax: Antisocial ("You're a train ride to no importance")

And of course, my signature. 

[aloco]

Theme song from "Petticoat Junction" - Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs

The theme song for 'Petticoat Junction' was written by Paul Henning and Curt Massey.  It was sung by Curt Massey.

Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs did the theme song for the Beverly Hillbillies.  Lester Flatt played the guitar, Earl Scruggs played the banjo, and Jerry Scoggins sang the lyrics.

[PMeyer]

"Silver Train" by the Rolling Stones.

 

[PMeyer]

Train in Vain by The Clash.

Yeah, it's got nothing to do with trains, but the title is probably a play on Love In Vain and that song has got a train in it!

 

So alone I keep the wolves at bay. Nice!

 

[route_rock]

  No prob Johnny,When trucks became the rage there were folks songs written about them as well.Its almost like we had RR songs then right into trucking songs. I love that song btw I have been the guy behind that compact lol.

 

  

[galaxy]

I've been working on the rail-road,

all the live long day-yay-yay,

O, I've been working on the rail-road,

 just to pass the time away!!!

- G

[Johnnny_reb]

route_rock thanks for pointing out that one to me. I thought I edited that one out.

[Dallas Model Works]

Train in Vain by The Clash.

Yeah, it's got nothing to do with trains, but the title is probably a play on Love In Vain and that song has got a train in it!

 

[route_rock]

  Ok time for an old trucker to clarify a few things here. The diesel in Bobby Mcgee is a a truck. Not a locomotive.Thumbing down is hitchhiking not hoboing.

  The song Johnnyreb has of Diesel on my tail,is also a trucking song. Back in the 60's 70's trucks were called diesels. The way slang changes over the years or terms even, can be confusing.

  Tang. Jack you forgot the classic Tull song Locomotive Breath (or I missed it perusing the posts here)Song is kind of fitting for me lol. sighs.Just wish old Charlie would steal the handle and the train it wont stop going no way to slow down( insert flute solo here)

   Borders has a CD called Train 45. All old train songs.Some real good folk songs from back in the 1800's type songs.Every song on there would get my vote.

  Plus of course Johnny Cash....Rock Island Line's,Paddy works on the railway(old Irish ditty) ANd the old track lining song that Aerosmith uses at the begining of their song ( I cant remember right off hand sheesh I am losing it) its also on that Train 45 CD and sung by Leadbelly.

   

 

[PA&ERR]

I would have to say my favorite railroad song would have to be:

Charlie and the MTA (or The Man Who Never Returned!)

-George 

 

[Johnnny_reb]

It has been really fun reading the responses to my little inquiry. I think you all for the responses and have truly enjoyed them.

[mikesmowers]

  I am kinda surprised no one has mentioned 

  Long Twin Silver Line    Bob Seiger
 

[PASMITH]

OK, you've convinced a lurker to respond.  The first railroad song I remember was on a six inch platter.  A kiddy's song about a tugboat called Little Toot.  He "saved the day" by rescuing a car float with passenger cars of the Weehawken, Hoboken and Troy Railroad.  For a flatlander in the Midwest, the sounds of tugboats and the name Weehawken, Hoboken and Troy was funny.

The first RR song I remember running to the radio to hear was the Chattanooga Choo Choo by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra and then, Judy Garland's On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.  The first railroad song that gave me an emotional impact was Fast Freight by the Kingston Trio.  I bought their album because of it. As time passed by, and computers came along, I've rounded up a bunch of Fav RR songs.  Most of which are named here.

Neat topic, that brought back some hidden, but treasured memories.  Thanks, Johnny Reb

 

Weehawken brings music to my ears. My father use to take me there on the West Shore Division of the NYC pulled by the K-11's. From there we would take the Weehawken Ferry into NYC and visit the Lionel exhibit at 15 east 22nd St. And then, there was the Hoboken Terminal, the original home of the NY Society of Model Engineers. Those were the good old days when things were the way they use to be.

Peter Smith, Memphis

[fec153]

Sentemental Journey

This Train Don't Stop Here Any More

Sentimental Journey by Buck Clayton and His All Stars. JAZZ.

Flip

 

Wow, Sentimental Journey seems a little too tame. Watching ARTHILL's slide show leads me to conclude that Art Hill, John Allen, Malcolm Furlow and John Olson may all have been base jumpers before they were model railroaders.

Peter Smith, Memphis

[Anonymous]

"Train Kept A Rollin'" - Aerosmith's version, live (Jimmy Page did a great version for his first encore during the "Outrider" tour).

[Gandydancers]

OK, you've convinced a lurker to respond.  The first railroad song I remember was on a six inch platter.  A kiddy's song about a tugboat called Little Toot.  He "saved the day" by rescuing a car float with passenger cars of the Weehawken, Hoboken and Troy Railroad.  For a flatlander in the Midwest, the sounds of tugboats and the name Weehawken, Hoboken and Troy was funny.

The first RR song I remember running to the radio to hear was the Chattanooga Choo Choo by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra and then, Judy Garland's On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.  The first railroad song that gave me an emotional impact was Fast Freight by the Kingston Trio.  I bought their album because of it. As time passed by, and computers came along, I've rounded up a bunch of Fav RR songs.  Most of which are named here.

Neat topic, that brought back some hidden, but treasured memories.  Thanks, Johnny Reb

 

[tangerine-jack]

Almost forgot there is "Trains" also by Jethro Tull

 

Here I am at the end of the day
with a cup of cold coffee
from the station buffet.
On trains, on trains I seem
to spend my life on trains.
See the blue suit banker in the ticket line.
Got an Evening Standard with Playboy
hidden behind.
On trains, on trains he seems
to spend his life on trains.

Time after time.
Was I just dreaming?
Did I help you aboard?
Full passenger service ---
let me help with the door.
Sit down take the weight off your feet.
There's a train full of people I'd like
you to meet.
On trains, on trains we love
to spend our lives on trains.

Join the secret world of trains.
Feel the pleasure. Touch the pain.
Drift into yesterday.

Once and again
I was just thinking.
We could meet sometime
on the 17.30 where
I usually find
my friends at the end of the day.
May we pay your fare, lady?
We should like you to stay
in our train. On trains ---
you'll have to spend your life
on trains.

I hear there's an office party on the 18.05.
You'll be home for Christmas if they
take you alive from the train.
Those trains, we have to spend our lives
on trains.

Once and again
I was just thinking.
We could meet any time
on number two platform
where I usually find
my friends at the end of the day.
On trains, trains, trains.

[exprail]

The City of New Orleans done by John Denver.

When I first started railroading as a trainman, back in 1968 on the IC, I deadheaded from Champaign to Centralia  on the CNO and other passenger trains frequently. It was quite a fast ride on good equipment.

Later when my boys were young I used to sing them to sleep with the song.

BOK 

[tangerine-jack]

"Raising Steam" by Jethro Tull from the album "Crest of a Knave"

"Over high plains, through the snow...
Roll those tracks out, don't you know
I'm raising steam.
Thin vein creeping; hot blood flow...
Spill a little where the new towns grow.
I got my whole life hanging in a sack,
Heading out into that wide world wide.
You got your locomotive sitting on your track
And I don't care which way I ride.
I may not be coming back.

Left a lady with a heart
All in pieces come apart
Raising steam.
That engine up front must
Have a heart big enough for the both of us.
Riding shotgun on the sunset, stare it in the eye,
Rocking on my heels out to the west.
Funny how the whole world, historically,
Feels the urge to chase the sun to rest.
We may not be coming back.

Let me be your engineer...
Have you smiling ear to ear
Raising steam.
And will you tell me how it feels
When you're up and rolling on your driving wheels?
I got my whole life hanging in a sack,
Heading out into that wide world wide.
I'll be your locomotive blowing off it's stack
And I don't care which way I ride.
I may not be coming back.
Raising steam.

[HarryHotspur]

Janice Joplin: Me and Bobby Mcgee

Arlo Guthrie: City of New Orleans

Both of which played on the AM rock radio station while I was rebuilding my layout to it's "almost" current configuration.

Rotor

How is "Me and Bobby McGee" a railroad song? 

I vote for "Chatanooga Choo Choo" as sung by Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein".

Harry...maybe not completely about trains, but...

"Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waiting for a train
And I's feeling nearly as faded as my jeans.
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained,
It rode us all the way to New Orleans.

I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna,
I was playing soft while Bobby sang the blues.
Windshield wipers slapping time, I was holding Bobby's hand in mine,
We sang every song that driver knew..."

Rotor

 

Ah, thanks. I should have remembered that. Always assumed the diesel was a truck, though.

[twhite]

I

On the classical side,

Pacific 231, an orchestrated piece, but you should hear Isao Tomita's version, all electronic music.

Dinwitty: 

Pacific 231 is quite a piece, isn't it?  Another classical piece that conjures up images of a steam loco--though I don't know whether or not it's intentional--is the second movement of Aaron Copland's "Third Symphony".  Sounds like a big Articulated struggling up a mountain grade.  It's pretty wild. 

Tom

[hobo9941]

City of New Orleans gets my vote. Back in the 60s, I was in the Air Force, and stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi. I often ran down to New Orleans on the weekends. Yeah, I went to Bourban Street. But I also spent a lot of time hanging around the passenger depot in New Orleans. I never got to ride The City of New Orleans, but I watched it come and go many times. Also lots of Southern and L&N trains. The Crescent, Gulf Wind, Hummingbird and Pan American. Back in those days, security was unheard of. You could wander all over a train yard or depot, or engine terminal, and nobody bothered you. Sadly, today, you would probably wind up in jail.

[jecorbett]

Haven't seen any votes for 500 miles by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary. It at least deserves honorable mention. The Kingston Trio hijacked the song and made a hit single out of it. Supposedly Peter Yarrow never forgave Bob Shane for that.  

[jecorbett]

1. City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie

2. City of New Orleans by Johnny Cash

3. City of New Orleans by Willie Nelson

4. City of New Orleans by anybody else

[CrossTrack Trains]

"The Monkey & the Engineer" Artist: The Grateful Dead, Album: Reckoning

 

Did anyone mention City of New Orleans? just kidding :)

 

 

[Great Western Rwy fan]

It has to be City Of New Orleans sung by Willie Nelson, Followed by Johnny Cash's Folsom prision blues.