The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Does anyone know if there are railroad or train themed records? I know of only 2. They are The Wreck Of Old 97, and Casey Jones. If anyone knows of a discography or other titles, I'd love to know.
Harvey Kravitz

There's a train load just by Dalhart...

The Runaway Train - Dalhart
New River Train - Dalhart
The Wreck of the 1256 - Dalhart
Wreck of the Shenandoah - Dalhart
The Lightning Express - Dalhart
The Freight Wreck at Altoona - Dlahart
On the Dixie Bee Line - Dalhart
The Wreck of the Royal Palm - Dalhart
The Wreck of C. & O. Number 5 - Dalhart
The Engineer's Dream - Dalhart
Watching the Trains Come In - Dalhart

Then there are many more...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbzc77Tz6PA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG4dNNZ_Q7E
Take the "A" Train - Ellington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_train_songs
https://classictrainsongs.com
http://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/t ... ntry-music

Wow, I didn't realize there was so much just by Vernon Dalhart. The Wreck of The Shenandoah was about the Airship in 1925. That was the USS Shenandoah that was a Navy Airship that was wrecked in a storm in Ohio. The Navy was experimenting with lighter than air ships. The Navy was trying to come up with a floating aircraft carrier. In 1933, the Navy stopped the Airship program.
Harvey Kravitz

There are many train themed records on UK labels, such as :

Trains-Reginald Gardiner-Decca.
Choo Choo-Jack Payne-Columbia, and Jack Hylton-HMV.
This is the way the puff puff goes-Rhythmic Eight-Zonophone.
Coronation Scot-Queens Hall Light Orchestra-Columbia.

The ubiquitous Glenn Miller Chattanooga Choo Choo was of course issued over here on HMV.

Duke Ellington: Daybreak Express and Happy-Go-Lucky Local
Meade Lux Lewis: Honky-Tonky Train Blues
Leadbelly: Midnight Special
Louis Armstrong: 2:19 Blues
Bessie Smith: Dixie Flier Blues, Soft Pedal Blues, Ticket Agent, Ease Your Window Down
Jimmie Rodgers: Brakeman's Blues, Waitin' for a Train, Train Whistle Blues, Hobo Bill's Last Ride, The Mystery of Number Five, Hobo's Mediation


There are hundreds, trains were a recurring theme in blues and hillbilly mainly in the 20s but later as well , the above is just a sample.

Then there is that chesnut of the Gay Nineties "A Night Trip to Buffalo", which was found on Edison National Phonograph and Columbia cylinders, and on Berliner, Zonophone, Climax and American discs.

The "Trolley Car Gallop" might count. I have it on a Monarch disc, but it was also recorded on Zonophone.

Of course there is also "When That Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam", and of course that Bluebird sound effects record with "Train" on side A and "Elevator" on side B.

Many folks recorded "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad", Then there is "Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey?", the subject of which is "A B & O Brakeman what took and throwed her down." Then there is "Alabammy Bound", "That's All There Is, There Ain't No More", "Slow Freight Train Blues", and "Casey Bill".

If trolley cars count there is "I Had Someone Else Before I Had You", Jelly Roll Morton's "Sidewalk Blues", and "Zing! Went My Heart String! (The Trolley Car Song)>

If the NYC trains count, then Ellington/Strayhorn's Take the A Train could be included.

The Wreck of Number Nine. By Vernon Dalhart Edison Disc #52088.

Thanks for all the replies. I am also a model railroader. I want to connect my my railroad hobby and phonograph hobbies together.
Harvey Kravitz

Ted Lewis and his Band: "Headin' For Better Times" on Columbia 2378-D. Even if you're not a Ted Lewis fan it's a great record with lots of Muggsy Spanier and even TL's "gaspipe" isn't too annoying on this one, nor is the "incidental singing"- it works here, and most of the vocal is handled by "The Bachelors", a very good male quartet. I think it's a great theme tune for a train collection.


All aboard for the Sunshine Special
This train is headed for better times
All aboard.....

Put a coat of joy right on
In a minute we'll be gone
On a choo-choo, choo-choo headin' for better times

Mister Gloom won't be allowed
In an optimistic crowd
On a choo-choo, choo-choo headin' for better times

Don't take a trunk of junk filled with yesterdays
Tomorrow we're gonna see sunshine

As we go from state to state
We'll be shouting, "Things are great!"
On a choo-choo, choo-choo headin' for better times

Hey, put a coat of joy right on
Yes sir, in a minute, in a minute we're goin', boy
We're goin' on a choo-choo headed for better times

Oh, you know Mister Gloom, he won't be allowed
No, in an optimistic crowd
On a choo-choo, choo-choo is headed for better times

Now listen, folks, don't pack a trunk of junk filled with yesterdays
No, no, because tomorrow, tomorrow, yes sir, we're gonna see sunshine

And you know, as we go from state to state
We'll be shouting, "Things are great!"
On that choo-choo, choo-choo headed for better times

Tell 'em boys.....

First stop on the way
Town called Happy Days
Next stop, yessiree
What you call Prosperity
What's this town we're in?
That's called Work Begins
Last stop, can't you guess?
Nothin' else but Happiness

Don't take a trunk of junk filled with yesterdays
Tomorrow we're gonna see sunshine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FL5r165nJ8