Trivia - Best Songs with Rail Content

[Jonny]

Breakthru by Queen

Also re-used in the video for The Show Must Go On (the lack of new material for the latter being due to Freddie Mercury being ill and ultimately dying).

 

[Karl]

I don't think this obvious one has been mentioned yet.

Chris Rea's 'Deltics' from 1979

.

 

[EM2]

There's an urban legend associated with Baker Street, namely that the saxophone part was played by Bob Holness, later the host of the 1980s TV game show Blockbusters.

It wasn't!

It was a joke written in the NME by Stuart Maconie. He made up all sorts of stuff, like David Bowie being a qualified Rugby League referee, but for some reason the Bob Holness one stuck.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It was a joke written in the NME by Stuart Maconie. He made up all sorts of stuff, like David Bowie being a qualified Rugby League referee, but for some reason the Bob Holness one stuck.

Makes sense that Maconie was the source! Guess the fact that Holness WAS the first man to play James Bond (in a radio adaptation of Casino Royale, IIRC) makes any other random trivia about him seem more believable.

 

[Merseysider]

For those who aren’t averse to something a bit heavier/in German, “D-Zug” (Express Train) by Eisbrecher is quite good

 

[341o2]

I've got a thing about trains. Johnny Cash

Paddy works on the railroad

Oh Mr Porter (song, not film)

 

[Iskra]

The Maccabees- Bicycles, it appears to be about the psychological impact of the 7/7 bombings on London commuters, but has several references to trains.

 

[EM2]

'Trans-Pennine Express' by Warm Digits:

And their 'Interchange' is all inspired by the Tyne & Wear Metro:
Tracklisting
Cut and Cover
Working for a Better Future
The Connected Coast
Tyneside Electrics
The Office of the Control Inspector
Terminus
http://warmdigits.co.uk/?page_id=481

 

[TheNewNo2]

Graffiti on the Train by the Stereophonics.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Graffiti on the Train by the Stereophonics.

That reminds me: Local Boy in the Photograph also by the Stereophonics.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Locomotive Breath

Locomotive Breath is, of course, Tull's "standard" finale song, and so relatively famous.

But Journeyman is arguably 'more' about trains, more complex - and more poetic - but never seems to get noticed much.

 

[Harbornite]

I haven't read through the thread so I don't know if anyone's mentioned Trans Europe Express by Kraftwerk. Then there's Johnny Cash (mentioned upthread) who has got quite a few train-related songs worth checking out.

That reminds me: Local Boy in the Photograph also by the Stereophonics.

Good tune that.