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What's the best train song?

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Posted by twhite on Saturday, November 27, 2004 2:05 PM
I don't know if you could call it a 'song', but there's a piece of classical music by Paul Hoenneger (sp) called "Pacific 231" that is just about the damndest description of a locomotive charging down the track that I've ever heard. That an orchestra can duplicate the sound of a locomotive THAT well is kind of mind-boggling. it was written during the 1920's, when a style called "Musique Mechanique" was popular in Paris. Also, whether or not he meant it that way, Aaron Copland's "Symphony no. 3" has what sounds like a huge locomotive struggling uphill with a heavy freight in the second movement. These pieces may not 'Rock', but they're thunderously impressive.
Tom
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Posted by willy6 on Saturday, November 27, 2004 9:21 AM
"Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osborne
Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it.
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Posted by UpNorthBob on Saturday, November 27, 2004 7:20 AM
What was the title of that song Jimmy Rogers did?

"Standin' by the water tower
waitin' for a train
A thousand miles away from home
Standin' in the rain"
-----

Even had some yodeling - don't get no better than that.
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Posted by cmurray on Friday, November 26, 2004 6:45 AM
"Southern Streamline" by John Fogerty on Blue Moon Swamp CD

Colin ---------- There's just no end to cabooseless trains.

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 26, 2004 6:19 AM
"The L & N dont stop here anymore" by Jean Ritchie and my fav version is sung by Dale Ann Bradley. [now they sit in a rusty row of emptys] Some of these emptys sit not to far from me. I plan on a tribute scene with old rusty L & N coal cars just left to rot.
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Posted by dave9999 on Thursday, November 25, 2004 10:06 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by SILVERCHAMPION

I don't know if it is the right name but "The train kept rolling all night long"


"Train kept a rollin" by Aerosmith
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Posted by PennsyHoosier on Thursday, November 25, 2004 8:24 PM
Amazing how many great railroad tunes there are, huh? See, we are not alone!
Lawrence, The Pennsy Hoosier
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Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 8:26 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by retsignalmtr

Arlo Guthrie did the city of new orleans.
Orange blossom special- instrumental



Steve Goodman wrote it, and did it first.

The original is quite a bit more up-tempo than Arlo's version. More like passenger train speed than freight train speed.

--Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

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Posted by TrainFreak409 on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 6:29 PM
Here's another

"The Love Train" by Big & Rich!

Let's take ride, let's take a ride on the Love Train.
Unwind, we'll be chugga luggin all the way.
Let's roll, like the Stones playing all day-ay.
Let's take a ride, let's take a ride on the Love Train-ain-ain-ain.

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern

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Posted by retsignalmtr on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 6:20 PM
Arlo Guthrie did the city of new orleans.
Orange blossom special- instrumental
why isn't that tv series Casey Jones being run on tv land? im getting tired of leave it to beaver and gilligans island.
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Posted by PennsyHoosier on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 7:14 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

[
Gordon LightFoot Rocks[:D]


[:p][:)][:D][^]

Anyway, on this Train 45 CD, here is the full list of tracks. You can listen to samples of most of them on the Amazon.com website. All of them are from the 1920s to 1950s. Makes great background music for a session!

1. Riding on That Train 45 - Steve Ledford
2. Wreck of the 1256 - Curley Fox
3. Wreck of the Old '97 - Arizona Wranglers
4. True and Trembling Brakeman
5. Railroad Stomp
6. He Is Coming to Us Dead - G.B. Grayson
7. Lighting Express
8. Red and Green Signal Lights - G.B. Grayson
9. Old Ruben - Sons of the Mountaineers
10. Depot Blues
11. K.C. Railroad Blues - Andrew & Jim Baxter
12. Train Whistle Nightmare - Joe "Cannonball" Lewis
13. Pine Knot Cannonball - George Edgin
14. McAbee's Railroad Piece - Palmer McAbee
15. Riding the Elevated Train - Lew Childre
16. Time Table Blues
17. Pullman Passenger Train
18. Orange Blossom Special
19. Poor Little Liza, Poor Girl - Homer & Jethro
20. Jerry Go Ile That Car - Harry McClintock
21. Section Gang Song
22. Rock Island Line
23. Longest Train
24. Golden Gate Gospel Train - Golden Gate Quartet
25. Death of John Henry - Uncle Dave Macon
26. Railroad Blues - Sam McGee
Lawrence, The Pennsy Hoosier
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Posted by Fergmiester on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 5:51 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

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


We did! Twice!![:(!]

Gordon LightFoot Rocks[:D]

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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  

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Posted by Jetrock on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 12:22 AM
"Bound for Hell" by Love & Rockets

There just aren't many gothic songs about trains, but that's the one...

This train, this train is bound for nowhere
This train, this train is bound for Hell!
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Posted by Allen Jenkins on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 12:12 AM
I don't think, that the Dead were talkin' to anyone else, just trying to help a brotha'
gapharm97, You played favorably in this movement.
Listening to Bill Monroe, is to begin to understand, how to pick, and sing all music.
Do'es the video to Driver 8 show Family Lines engines on the inspection pit?
I did some research on the Rapid Eye Movement website. I'm looking to get that video, as it showed SD40-2's in North Georgia, around Athens, in the late eighties!
Allen/Backyard
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 22, 2004 11:58 PM
I don't know about ALL the songs suggested as I haven't heard of a lot of them but for my money and till I hear something better it's A Man and A Train by Marty Robbins.
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Posted by PennsyHoosier on Monday, November 22, 2004 11:48 PM
Rounder Records has a GREAT CD titled "Train 45: Railroad Songs of the Early 1900s." I play it all the time when I'm "working on the railroad." It is worth getting.
Lawrence, The Pennsy Hoosier
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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.
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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.

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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.

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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  

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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!!

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Posted by joseph2 on Sunday, November 21, 2004 9:16 PM
Wabash Cannonball and Rock Island LIne
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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].
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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.
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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
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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

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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"
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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.)
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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.
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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.
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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  

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