I reccomend looking up the Steel Rails CD, named for a piece by Allison Crouse. There’s a portrait of the PRR for s cover if I recall correctly.
Also, Charlie Daniels has done the Orange Blossom Special instrumental, as well as a ballad of an a train robbery pf sorts entitled Midnight Train.
A few years ago Stacey Kent gave us a new train/food song: Breakfast on the Morning Tram.
My three favorites:
City of New Orleans- Willie Nelson
Mystery Train - Elvis
Freight Train- Nancy Whiskey
The best of the best, IMO
Peter Smith, Memphis
Being someone that spent most of the 80’s soaking up all I could of the Grateful Dead, I immediatley thought of “Casey Jones” Or a couple of traditional arrangements they played alot; “Monkey and the Engineer”, and “Big Railroad Blues”.
It’s always interesting how quickly these threads lose the original topic - which in this case, was asking about railroad songs that are NOT about steam trains / steam engines (i.e. electric or diesels only) !!
[;)]
“Morning Train (9:00 to 5:00)” by Sheena Easton
“Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight
“Love on a Real Train” by Tangerine Dream (no lyrics, but was used for background music for the L scenes in the movie “Risky Business.”)
Did any body mention, “CHATTANOOGA CHOO-CHOO” or “THE LONG BLACK TRAIN”.
HAVE A (HIGH) BALL!!!
These posts are all great, but there are some wonderful old dark railroad songs also. In this category listen to:
Railroad Bill
Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man
And don’t forget “Morningtown Ride” by The Seekers.
Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, …it doesn’t matter. - Mark Twain
How about “She Caught The Katy” by Taj Mahal. Crazy bout that hard headed woman of mine!
-Stan
By the Kingston Trio.
Ever hear the one of “The railroad runs thru the middle of my house”? I have it on a 45.
The Freight Train Blues
By
Boxcar Willie
Right! My sister had the piano sheet music in the 50s.
Otis44
Hank Williams–Pan American
Hank Williams–California Zephyr ( actually same tune as Pan American )
Jimmie Rodgers—Waiting For A Train
Jimmie Rodgers–Ben Dewberry’s Final Ride
Roy Acuff–Freight Train Blues ( Theme on my web site but by Elton Britt)
Roy Acuff–Fireball Mail
Roy Acuff–Night Train To Memphis
On The ATSF by the Pied Pipers and Chattanooga Choo Choo by Glen Miller
jeffherqert–
Thanks, I was scrolling through, waiting for “The ATSF” to appear. It was from an old movie, “The Harvey Girls”, with Judy Garland. I believe the Harvey Girls were something equivalent to a train stewardess for passenger trains. I have recordings of Johnny Mercer, and Judy Garland doing this one. Heh-I’ve got my granddaughters singing along with this one!
George Hamilton IV—Canadian Pacific
The Harvey Girls were waitresses at Harvey restaurants at Railroad Depots
My Faves:"Blue Train"by Johnny Cash;"I’m Movin’On"by Hank Snow;"I Heard That Lonesome Whistle Blowin’"by Hank Williams;"Casey Jones"by The Grateful Dead.
I’ve got a little grandnephew that’s a year and a half old and everytime I’m in Costco;WalMart;BestBuy;etal.,I’m very tempted to buy him a Johnny CD and a Tom&Jerry DVD.
Two absolutely great songs by Glenn Miller…"Chattanooga Choo Choo,"and “Tuxedo Junction”.
Also, “Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe”