p51, Here is the rest of the story

For me it is 'Big Iron Horses'.

My father was a Glenn Miller fan. My vote would be "Chattanooga Choo Choo." 

"City of New Orleans" is good music but downbeat lyrics about a poorly patronized train soon to be discontinued. Not so great for train fans.

Riding on the City of New Orleans
Illinois Central Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail ...

But all the towns and people seem to fade into a bad dream
And the steel rails still ain't heard the news
The conductor sings his song again, the passengers will please refrain
This train's got the disappearing railroad blues

This is my favorite......Daddy What's a Train?

Peter

My favorites:

Flatt and Scruggs doing Orange Blossom Special

Aerosmith doing a version of Train Kept A Rollin.

and the aforementioned Blackfoot Train Train.

Harry Belafonte singing "John Henry" was one of my favorites as a kid. I never really paid attention to the lyrics of "City of New Orleans" and what it meant, I always thought it was an homage to what trains meant, not a dirge to their death

As far as the Orange Blossom special goes, if you want a good thrashing, go to a fiddling competition and try playing that as one of your tunes, some competitions have rules that specifically state "No Orange Blossom Special allowed"

Merle Haggard's My Love Affair with Trains album, especially "The Miner's Silver Ghost."

Runner up:  "Hobo Bill," Jimmy Rogers.

I like the cattanoga choochoo the glenn miller.And the 1970 remake I would perk up hearing it.The orange blossome special seaboard air line railroad.The train station in my home town.Had an oilpainting of the orange blossome special being pulled by a m2 mountain type.With its drive rods a blur.

What ever happened to Boxcar Willie?

Another of my favorite train songs!

Cool • Thread • Post • Tune & Story.........

Gentlemen,

   I like all the great Cash & Wille Train songs great stuff no doubt about it.  However my favorite train song was sung by Tenn Ernie Ford, way back in the 30's, its about Gods Train.

Dave

Thanks for mentioning Tennessee Ernie Ford.  Get on Board, Little Children is a great one.

Curtis Mayfield drew on similar themes for his classic 1965 Gospel/R&B crossover People Get Ready.  First recorded by the Impressions, it has been performed by many artists including Aretha Franklin, Al Green, The Staple Singers, Dusty Springfield, Jeff Beck & Rod Stewart, U2 and Alicia Keys.

This rendition of People Get Ready features Jeff Beck on Strat, Jason Rebello on keyboard, Tal Wilkenfeld on bass, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and vocals by the Queen of 21st century blue eyed soul Joss Stone.

Can you hear the Diesels hummin'? 

People get ready, there's a train comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord

So people get ready, for a train to Jordan
Picking up passengers coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board them
There's hope for all among those loved the most

There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Whom would hurt all mankind just to save his own, believe me now
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there is no hiding place against the kingdoms throne

So people get ready there's a train comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord

Favorite Train songs:

1. City of New Orleans, Arlo Guthrie
2. Casey Jones, Grateful Dead
3. Runaway Train, Soul Asylum
4. Glendale Train, New Riders of the Purple Sage
5. Midnight Special, Creedence Clearwater Revival
6. Tracks of my tears, Linda Ronstadt  
7. We call it Riding the Gravy Train, Pink Floyd 

I couldn't help the last two. Had to include them.   Some of these are covers of the original song but these are my favorite versions.

For me, it's these below. With the movie End of the Line, it's the opening credits with that music and ending.

And below is one of my favorites is this soundtrack, which I bet not to many people knew it was instrumental.

Lots of good ones out there, for sure......Chuck Berry - All Aboard !

Roger Miller "Old Toy Trains" 1967 - YouTube

▶ 2:11

 

Not really a train song but does anyone remember the old "Choo Choo Charlie" Good & Plenty candy commercial jingle?

One of my favorites The story of The Jupiter and the 119 by Railroad Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uy1dXoSaGE

Although I still favor "The City of New Orleans" as the best train song, I would say that my favorite train song artist is Johnny Cash. I had the pleasure of attending a show by Johnny Cash where he sang predominantly train songs, and I was ecstatic with his talent.

Not really a train song but does anyone remember the old "Choo Choo Charlie" Good & Plenty candy commercial jingle?

Love it! Still know all the words. 

It is a great song. My favorite is this one by Johnny Cash (he has several on YouTube) because I can EASILY UNDERSTAND ALL THE WORDS! I am hard of hearing and have problems understanding songs, but not sung by Johnny Cash.

Alex

Patsy Cline - Lifes Railway To Heaven

Click on here to see this on You Tube.

Want them to sing this at my funeral.

Agreed.  I'll take Chattanooga Choo Choo any day.

Still one of my favorites - pretty song, beautiful voice, and nice to watch. (helps if you know Italian . . .)

Alex

I don't need to know Italian to know what she means when she looks at me and sings 'su amore...'

A little big in the booty no?  Which begs this joke from back in the day.

What's the difference between an Italian woman and an elephant?

About ten pounds and a mustache..

Veering off topic now... Sorry, my bad, back to regular programming.  Ciao.

http://youtu.be/7Uh8IZLxzfg

Marty Brown Freight Train

from somewhere in the 90's.  liked his voice and bought his 1st couple albums.  he dropped off and appeared on America's got talent last year.

As a life long train fan, I find the "City of new Orleans," particularly with Steve Goodman's original recording, a celebration of the the train even though it was in its declining years.

Rusty

My strings are wound up a little tighter and louder....and go to 11

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lermqfhhJx4

    A Famous Railroad Tune, from Michigan

Performed by the: Monroe Michigan Big Band

     There are community bands all across the USA & Canada. You will find one near your train layout.

Community Bands are World Wide.

xxxxxxxxxx

Roger,

   Patsy's Life's Railway to Heaven, that sir is quite a piece of music, and one of her favorites.  I can understand why you like it so much.  I got to see her sing it live, both Patsy Cline and Tennessee Ernie Ford were given incredible gifts, and they both knew where that gift came from, and both sang about it.

PCRR/Dave 

Lots of good ole' standbys so far.  Here's one from another long gone artist.

Little Feat's, New Delhi Freight Train.  Sure do miss Lowell George. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51f4q93GBMc

Bruce

King of the Road - Roger Miller

From: Cincinnati, Ohio

Lets welcome the Boyer Sisters to the OGR Forum

The Boyer Sisters sing "Chattanooga Choo Choo"

Published on Feb 20, 2015, a Public Video On YouTube.

They are a new "Swing Group on You Tube" 

If you like Big Band Music, you will like this tune.

Take a look & listen....... Gary

Gary

I have always loved The City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie. I also love the Wabash Cannonball by Roy Acuff.

Midnight Flyer by The Eagles and I've been workin' on the railroad by my dad. (RIP, Dad.)

I've always loved the City of New Orleans, still know all the words.

But check this out... Big Rock Candy Mountain, performed by the 80's group The Beat Farmers, with the late Country Dick Montana on vocals. Pay close attention to the lyrics. Enjoy!!!

I did a little digging and discovered that this youtube version has the last verse whistled over. This is how it is supposed to end:

In the Big Rock Candy Mountain the jails are made of tin
And you can walk right out again as soon as you are in
There ain't no short handled shovels, no axes saws or picks
I'm a goin to stay where you sleep all day
Where they hung the jerk that invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountain
I'll see you all this coming fall in the Big Rock Candy Mountain

I bought the digital version off iTunes, and it's the same as the video. I'll have to check my vinyl. I think that version is complete.

Further digging yielded this:

I knew the song was old, and the Beat Farmers just covered it, but I had no idea how old. Try 87 years!!! Looks like the second video may be by the guy who wrote it. Still like Country Dick's voice best.

. 

Hey Woody did RR tunes too.

Running, I'm more likely listening to...

Howlin' Wolf- Smokestack lighting, Who's been talking, or maybe Clutch Gravel road then their "Who's been talkin'" cover (2cnd).

Mystery Train- The King, Neil Young, The Band...You name um, it got covered

  Because its been known as a sing along nursery rhyme for so long,  I think "I've been working on the railroad" wins.