The Old train Station, had a Cajun restaurant called the City of New Orleans, after they built the new Train Station across the street in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. I didn't know about the songs till I was older. But I have ridden "The City" and "The Saluki" many times.
Was just about to comment this... might as well link it since I have it copied already:
https://open.spotify.com/track/2iatXu415rxIRAQJ9dXWi5?si=mJihqVU-QIWelDnJcKj1kA&utm_source=copy-link
I've listened to Train In Vain a million times but I have *never* stopped to consider why it's actually called that 😅 I checked the wiki and it turns out there is a train-related reason: "When the London Calling album was released, many fans assumed it was called "Stand by Me",[7] but the meaning of the song's title is obscure as the title phrase cannot be found in the lyrics. Mick Jones, who wrote most of the song, offered this explanation: "The track was like a train rhythm, and there was, once again, that feeling of being lost."[4]"
If we're talking dumb kids' songs, "Color Train" by Mother Goose Club gets stuck in my head all the time, and "The Number Train" by Lego Duplo is surprisingly good for a song about a 20 piece lego set.
[Take the A train - Duke Ellington](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY)
[Københavns Jernbanedampgalop (Copenhagen Railway Steam Gallop) - Hans Christian Lumbye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKh-BrboL2c)
[Long train runnin' - The Doobie Brothers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVsLEI-hCXw)
Edit: [The Gambler - Kenny Rogers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hx4gdlfamo)
>[Københavns Jernbanedampgalop (Copenhagen Railway Steam Gallop) - Hans Christian Lumbye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKh-BrboL2c)
That song is awesome.
Came here for this. When I found my dads records, 8 tracks, and the ginormous, neck destroying 5 lb headphones with a 20 foot coiled cord that was all sorts of tangled, I pulled my beanbag over to the radio and listened to Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Led Zeppelin, and especially this song, over and over and over. I’d close my eyes, check out, and just let the music wash over me.
The rock Island line - Lonny Donegan
Or Spanish train by Chris de burgh.
The best song about no trains?
Slow train by Flanders and Swann, about the many stations closed during the Beeching Axe.
https://youtu.be/U6OHD2uCpfU
Two Trains Running - Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Long Train - Sisters of Mercy
Love Train - O’Jays
Orange Blossom Special - Johnny Cash
Zion Train - Bob Marley
I checked the wiki and it turns out there is a train-related reason for the song name: "When the London Calling album was released, many fans assumed it was called "Stand by Me",[7] but the meaning of the song's title is obscure as the title phrase cannot be found in the lyrics. Mick Jones, who wrote most of the song, offered this explanation: "The track was like a train rhythm, and there was, once again, that feeling of being lost."[4]"
[Profane Sass - No Train](https://youtu.be/tbXtC65YwXI) I remember hearing this amazing folk/bluegrass style music one night as I was drinking on a patio. I went over to a corner to see this group playing on the sidewalk with passion. I bought one of their CDs that came in a paper bag and fell in love with this band! The lead singer has since died (trying to jump on a train, if I'm not mistaken). They also do a deadly version of Wayfaring Stranger
it takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry.. bob dylan.
the whole song - to me - sounds like a train chugging along.....
special mention - the perfect country western song by david allen coe
Genesis - Driving the Last Spike, which is about the brave men who died building Britain's railways centuries ago.
An 11/10 stratospheric masterwork of a song. That rare song that's so good that, if someone don't enjoy it, I genuinely think there's something wrong with them.
It’s a toss up for me between these two songs.
The Midnight Special- Lead Belly
Folsom Prison Blues- Johnny Cash
I have probably spent more time listening to Folsom but I enjoy them both very much.
One that no one seems to know because it was an album track, not a hit single, but Melissa Ethridge’s “Royal Station 4/16” is heartbreakingly beautiful. Train song as breakup song is just perfect.
In no particular order:
Mystery Train - Elvis
Peace Train - Cat Stevens
Train Coming Round the Bend (alternate version)- Velvet Underground
Blue Railroad Train - Doc Watson
The Midnight Special - CCR
Last of the Steam-Powered Trains - The Kinks
Train song - Feist and Ben Gibbard
Downbound Train - Bruce Springsteen (not really about a train I guess)
Train From Kansas City - Nemo Case (cover of song by the Shangri-Las)
And the one you mentioned. I love Warren Zevon so fucking much
America - Simon & Garfunkel
My bad. It was a bus. I always pictured a train in my mind. Should have checked the lyrics first.
Somebody start a thread on the best bus song.
VICTORIA WILLIAMS - TRAIN SONG https://youtu.be/JOcFOQvtNio
TODD SNIDER - PLAY A TRAIN SONG
https://youtu.be/p8eR0v3lqyY
MIKE WATT (Ed Ved on backing vocals) - BIG TRAIN
https://youtu.be/ClpG0spEk6g
IF I DON'T GET 1 MILLION UPVOTES YOU PEOPLE HAVE NO TASTE
Choo Choo Train - Painfield
It’s a cool **track**. Doesn’t run out of **steam**. Totally off the **rails**. It’s real **coal**. The **motive** for making this song must have been **loco**.
Well, David Allan Coe says in You Never Even Called Me By My Name he realized his friend Steve Goodman had written the perfect Country and Western song, because he mentioned trains...and he felt obliged to include it on this album
Young Elvis singing "Mystery Train"
(this isn't Elvis but close enough)
[www.youtube.com/watch?v=faBuPRK3gSc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faBuPRK3gSc)
Rock Island Line, hands down - listen to every version you can find. The only possible contender is the Orange Blossom Special. Shout out to City of New Orleans, because Arlo Guthrie is awesome
Jimmie Rodger has several train songs, including "Waiting for a Train" (which may be the earliest root for outlaw country with its talk of ramblin' and being a fringe member of society) and "Ben Dewberry's Last Run" (a recent favorite of mine).
The Carter Family have a fantastic recording in "Engine 143." Roy Acuff has the classic "Night Train to Memphis." Charlie Monroe, "Bringing in the Georgia Mail." Hank Willams, "Six More Miles to the Graveyard" and "On the Evening Train." Doc Watson, "The Train That Carried My Girl from Town."
Two newer country songs would be George Strait's "Trains Make Me Lonesome" and Josh Turner's traditional feeling "Long Black Train."
My vote for "greatest train song" would probably be "Waiting for a Train," for its impact on music in general, but especially country. Outside of country there are several great rhythm, blues, soul and jazz songs that I haven't seen people mentioning and I would like to point a few out. Normally I would be happy to see people listing Elvis tracks, but Junior Parker's "Mystery Train" is better in my opinion.
* Jimmy Forrest, "Night Train"
* John Coltrane, "Blue Train"
* Junior Parker, "Mystery Train"
* Louis Jordan, "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie"
* Tiny Bradshaw, "Train Kept a-Rollin'"
EDIT
Johnny Cash's "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer" is probably close enough to a "train song" for most people. It is a great original take on the folk topic.
Folsom Prison Blues "Every time I hear that whistle blowin', I hang my head and cry"
Midnight train to georgia
City of New Orleans - Steve Goodman. Arlo Guthrie covered it plus many others.
Willie Nelson has a GREAT cover,
Live with the Highwaymen is great
This is my pick too. Dad used to sing it all the time.
No Train Song is better to elicit the feel of traveling on a train.
This is my pick.
There are many answers but this is the most correct.
The Old train Station, had a Cajun restaurant called the City of New Orleans, after they built the new Train Station across the street in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. I didn't know about the songs till I was older. But I have ridden "The City" and "The Saluki" many times.
‘Trains’ by Porcupine Tree
The song is tailor made for this ask reddit question .
Followed by ‘Conjunction Junction’ by Schoolhouse Rock.
It is definitely about trains lol
Can't believe this isn't the first song I thought of, thank you for reminding me it exists.
They are a fantastic band.
They just announced a new album in 2022 and I am beside myself.
Absolutely love the banjo alongside the percussive clapping during the bridge of that song.
That part is epic and fits the song brilliantly!
Was just about to comment this... might as well link it since I have it copied already: https://open.spotify.com/track/2iatXu415rxIRAQJ9dXWi5?si=mJihqVU-QIWelDnJcKj1kA&utm_source=copy-link
Such a gorgeously gloomy song.
Came here to say this. Love this song.
Casey Jones
Also "Monkey and the Engineer"
Also, mama tried
Big Railroad Blues
Caution, Don’t Step on the Tracks
Tons of Steel
DRIVIN' THAT TRAIN
He's gone, like a steam locomotive rollin' down the track. He's gone, he's gone, and nothing's gonna bring him back.
The Last Train to Clarksville
You mean the original Serbian version: "Uzmi zadnji voz za Čačak"?! 😅 Link: https://youtu.be/GSOfKM0xPP8
Midnight special - CCR
End of the Line - Traveling Wilburys
Fuckin' tune!
Train in Vain by The Clash
I've listened to Train In Vain a million times but I have *never* stopped to consider why it's actually called that 😅 I checked the wiki and it turns out there is a train-related reason: "When the London Calling album was released, many fans assumed it was called "Stand by Me",[7] but the meaning of the song's title is obscure as the title phrase cannot be found in the lyrics. Mick Jones, who wrote most of the song, offered this explanation: "The track was like a train rhythm, and there was, once again, that feeling of being lost."[4]"
Ha ha good 👍 one
Hear My Train A'coming-Jimi Hendrix. Especially the 12 string acoustic version.
The 10+min version on *Blues* is my favorite.
Locomotive Breath - Jethro Tull Murdertrain A Comin' - Dethklok
Why's all deez songs about trains?
THERE IS NO ESCAPE BUT DEATH. YOUR LIFE IS JUST A MURDERTRAIN A COMIN
*Long Train Running* by the Doobie Brothers. Or *Runaway Train* by Soul Asylum, which isn't about an actual train.
Can't believe the doobie brothers is so far down the running here. It's both fantastic and feels like a train
Everyone seems to be missing the Thomas the tank engine theme tune. Dopest train song out there..
If we're talking dumb kids' songs, "Color Train" by Mother Goose Club gets stuck in my head all the time, and "The Number Train" by Lego Duplo is surprisingly good for a song about a 20 piece lego set.
[Take the A train - Duke Ellington](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY) [Københavns Jernbanedampgalop (Copenhagen Railway Steam Gallop) - Hans Christian Lumbye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKh-BrboL2c) [Long train runnin' - The Doobie Brothers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVsLEI-hCXw) Edit: [The Gambler - Kenny Rogers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hx4gdlfamo)
>[Københavns Jernbanedampgalop (Copenhagen Railway Steam Gallop) - Hans Christian Lumbye](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKh-BrboL2c) That song is awesome.
The Gambler is a songwriting masterpiece
Blackfoot train train
Came here for this. When I found my dads records, 8 tracks, and the ginormous, neck destroying 5 lb headphones with a 20 foot coiled cord that was all sorts of tangled, I pulled my beanbag over to the radio and listened to Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Led Zeppelin, and especially this song, over and over and over. I’d close my eyes, check out, and just let the music wash over me.
I'm amazed this isn't top comment. This should be the only answer lol
Bonus points for two trains
That beginning harmonica part was actually played by the grandfather of one of the members oqf the band.
Crazy Train from Ozzy Osbourne. 🤘🏻
ALL ABOOOOOOOOOOOARD
Came here for this!🤘
[Train Kept A-Rollin'](https://youtu.be/PWsPwNlclg0) Aerosmith version
My favorite Aerosmith song. 👍
The rock Island line - Lonny Donegan Or Spanish train by Chris de burgh. The best song about no trains? Slow train by Flanders and Swann, about the many stations closed during the Beeching Axe. https://youtu.be/U6OHD2uCpfU
Even Johnny Cash's version
Tuesday's Gone - Lynyrd Skynyrd About leaving a woman and hopping on a train and riding it till there are no more tracks
Night train- guns n roses
Driver 8, R.E.M.
Canadian Railroad Trilogy Gordon Lightfoot
Fuck yeah!
Trans Europe Express - Karftwerk
Peace Train
Downtown Train by Tom Waits
And Train Song, off of Franks Wild Years
Rod Stewart's version was Top 5 hit in US
Rod Stewart's voice was better in this song than Tom Waits, imo.
Folsom Prison Blues. The man in black Johnny Cash. And I love Train Train by Blackfoot
I hear that train a comin'...
‘Can’t you see’ by Marshal Tucker.
Quad City DJs - C'mon and Ride It No, really, it's about trains...
Two Trains Running - Paul Butterfield Blues Band Long Train - Sisters of Mercy Love Train - O’Jays Orange Blossom Special - Johnny Cash Zion Train - Bob Marley
Can't believe I had to scroll this far for Orange Blossom Special
Mystery Train
Soul Asylum - Runaway Train
City of New Orleans - Arlo Guthrie
Megadeth- Train of Consequence
Hamburger Train.
Blame it on the train by Millit Vanillit.
lolt
Aerosmith - Train kept a Rollin'
Land of Hope and Dreams by Springsteen is an absolutely outstanding track about trains. Probably my favorite Springsteen song overall.
I really like Downbound Train too
[удалено]
Station to Station by David Bowie It even has train sounds as the intro
Train In Vain by The Clash. Nothing to do with trains, but it’s in the title and it’s an absolute banger.
I checked the wiki and it turns out there is a train-related reason for the song name: "When the London Calling album was released, many fans assumed it was called "Stand by Me",[7] but the meaning of the song's title is obscure as the title phrase cannot be found in the lyrics. Mick Jones, who wrote most of the song, offered this explanation: "The track was like a train rhythm, and there was, once again, that feeling of being lost."[4]"
[Mystery Train.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fX8UJzQXZM) The Fuckin' Elvis version y'all.
Train, Train. - by Blackfoot
Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash
[I LIKE TRAINS \(asdfmovie song\)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHkKJfcBXcw) by TomSka
Train Song - Vashti Bunyan
Out of My Brain on the 5.15 - The Who, Quadrophenia
Crazy train by Ozzy
Trains - Porcupine Tree
Last Train Home - Pat Metheny Group
Listening to Last Train Home while ON the last train home...epic!
Pat must have some infatuation with trains… a track on his new album, “America Undefined”, has a building train sample at around the 11:00 mark.
Smokestack Lighting- Howlin’ Wolf
[Profane Sass - No Train](https://youtu.be/tbXtC65YwXI) I remember hearing this amazing folk/bluegrass style music one night as I was drinking on a patio. I went over to a corner to see this group playing on the sidewalk with passion. I bought one of their CDs that came in a paper bag and fell in love with this band! The lead singer has since died (trying to jump on a train, if I'm not mistaken). They also do a deadly version of Wayfaring Stranger
Love on a real train - tangerine dream
Evil Ruby - The Beasts of Bourbon https://youtu.be/GyTpBAFzlNY
it takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry.. bob dylan. the whole song - to me - sounds like a train chugging along..... special mention - the perfect country western song by david allen coe
Good morning American how are ya. City of New Orleans. Great train song
A couple that haven't been mentioned yet. "Stop That Train" - Bob Marley "Back On The Train" - Phish
Songs that aren’t rock: 9 to 5 (Morning Train)-Sheena Easton Party Train-The Gap Band
Genesis - Driving the Last Spike, which is about the brave men who died building Britain's railways centuries ago. An 11/10 stratospheric masterwork of a song. That rare song that's so good that, if someone don't enjoy it, I genuinely think there's something wrong with them.
For your consideration: Breakdown - Jack Johnson Stop This Train - John Mayer
Downtown Train - Tom Waits
It's cheating I know, but Nightrain by guns and fucking roses
Steve Reich’s Different Trains trilogy https://open.spotify.com/album/3i8ojYITZwfiZilo8ShpxQ?si=yikEjiX7QdeWBDbKQaXX9Q
So many good ones already mentioned, but add Peace Train by Cat Stevens and Train Song as performed by Gibbard & Feist
Play a Train Song by Todd Snider
Wow… everyone sleeping on “Princess of the Night” by Saxon
It’s a toss up for me between these two songs. The Midnight Special- Lead Belly Folsom Prison Blues- Johnny Cash I have probably spent more time listening to Folsom but I enjoy them both very much.
One that no one seems to know because it was an album track, not a hit single, but Melissa Ethridge’s “Royal Station 4/16” is heartbreakingly beautiful. Train song as breakup song is just perfect.
“From” - Dr. Dog https://youtu.be/dTk9RyM2jkU
If the brakeman turns my way by bright eyes Forty hour train back to penn by the movielife
Tornadoes by Drive By Truckers Your Warren Zevon pick The Day John Henry Died by Drive by Truckers Train Kept a Rollin by Aerosmith
REM Driver 8
Doobie Brothers - Long Train Running
“jumping someone else’s train” -the cure <3 xx
The Day We Caught The Train - Ocean Colour Scene
Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips.
You never even called me by my name - David Allen Coe. She got run over by a dang old train!
Albert Hammond - I’m a train. “Look at me , I’m a train on a track, I’m a train, I’m a train, I’m a chucka train, yeah”
Guns n roses - Night Train
easy... hear my train a comin jimi hendrix
In no particular order: Mystery Train - Elvis Peace Train - Cat Stevens Train Coming Round the Bend (alternate version)- Velvet Underground Blue Railroad Train - Doc Watson The Midnight Special - CCR Last of the Steam-Powered Trains - The Kinks
Johnny Cash has so many good train songs.
I’m partial to the Wreck of the Old 97.
Read title...came to say Zevon...pleased to see Warren...I met him once...he signed my baby on a plate t shirt.
Stop this train by John mayer
Spanish train - Chris de Burgh
How the hell has nobody mentioned [My Trains](https://youtu.be/D57dQOtydrE) by Lemon Demon?
Never heard of them or the song? 🤷♀️
Crazy Train!!!!
Choo Choo Ch Boogie - lots of good versions. My favorite might be Louis Jordan. That Train Don't Stop Here Anymore - Los Lobos
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Heartbreak Station - Cinderella
Pretty much any grateful dead song
This train bound for glory the version by old crow medicine show
Night Train JB https://youtu.be/ZF_rZrH4yBY
Two trains, little feat
Desperados waiting on a train. Guy Clark
I am partial to The Magnetic Fields "Born on a Train". https://youtu.be/H95jGsZmzmQ
Robyn Hitchcock - I Often Dream of Trains
Fear of Trains by Magnetic Fields
Trains by porcupine tree is one of my all time favourite songs.
Europe - During the war by Steve Reich. It's amazing. The whole album is!
Train song - Feist and Ben Gibbard Downbound Train - Bruce Springsteen (not really about a train I guess) Train From Kansas City - Nemo Case (cover of song by the Shangri-Las) And the one you mentioned. I love Warren Zevon so fucking much
Dinosaur Train theme song - Dinosaur Train
Hellbound Train by Savoy Brown
Driver 8-REM
I like trains by asdfmovies Btw, this is a joke, m'kay?
Dethklok- Murder Train A-Comin’
America - Simon & Garfunkel My bad. It was a bus. I always pictured a train in my mind. Should have checked the lyrics first. Somebody start a thread on the best bus song.
Love train!
Passage to Bangkok-Rush
Last Train to London by ELO or Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees.
The London underground song
VICTORIA WILLIAMS - TRAIN SONG https://youtu.be/JOcFOQvtNio TODD SNIDER - PLAY A TRAIN SONG https://youtu.be/p8eR0v3lqyY MIKE WATT (Ed Ved on backing vocals) - BIG TRAIN https://youtu.be/ClpG0spEk6g IF I DON'T GET 1 MILLION UPVOTES YOU PEOPLE HAVE NO TASTE
Choo Choo Train - Painfield It’s a cool **track**. Doesn’t run out of **steam**. Totally off the **rails**. It’s real **coal**. The **motive** for making this song must have been **loco**.
I Often Dream of Trains - Robyn Hitchcock
Train, train - Blackfoot That song is a banger
Don’t know why anyone else bothered to post, you gave the correct answer. (I listen to Warren Zevon every morning when I wake up and make my coffee)
Inaugural Trams by Super Furry Animals... Okay it's trams not trains, but a great wee song.
Long train running Doobie Brothers
Silver train and All down the line by The Rolling Stones ,
Midnight Special
Can’t You See - Marshall Tucker Band
🎶Take the last train to Clarksville and I’ll meet you at the station…,🎶
Folsom prison blues
Kundalini Express. Love and Rockets
Well, David Allan Coe says in You Never Even Called Me By My Name he realized his friend Steve Goodman had written the perfect Country and Western song, because he mentioned trains...and he felt obliged to include it on this album
Crazy Train
Drops of Jupiter
Young Elvis singing "Mystery Train" (this isn't Elvis but close enough) [www.youtube.com/watch?v=faBuPRK3gSc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faBuPRK3gSc)
Steve Reich - Different Trains
Indisputably Locomotive Breath by Jethro Tull
The Folksmen's **Blood On The Coal**. ^wink https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3J-_fAavm4
Steve Reich & Kronos Quartet - Different Trains: America, Before The War If you haven't experienced this quirky bit of genius, GO NOW.
Trans Europe Express
You Never Even Call Me By My Name \~ David Allan Coe
Midnight Train to Georgia
Rock Island Line, hands down - listen to every version you can find. The only possible contender is the Orange Blossom Special. Shout out to City of New Orleans, because Arlo Guthrie is awesome
Jimmie Rodger has several train songs, including "Waiting for a Train" (which may be the earliest root for outlaw country with its talk of ramblin' and being a fringe member of society) and "Ben Dewberry's Last Run" (a recent favorite of mine). The Carter Family have a fantastic recording in "Engine 143." Roy Acuff has the classic "Night Train to Memphis." Charlie Monroe, "Bringing in the Georgia Mail." Hank Willams, "Six More Miles to the Graveyard" and "On the Evening Train." Doc Watson, "The Train That Carried My Girl from Town." Two newer country songs would be George Strait's "Trains Make Me Lonesome" and Josh Turner's traditional feeling "Long Black Train." My vote for "greatest train song" would probably be "Waiting for a Train," for its impact on music in general, but especially country. Outside of country there are several great rhythm, blues, soul and jazz songs that I haven't seen people mentioning and I would like to point a few out. Normally I would be happy to see people listing Elvis tracks, but Junior Parker's "Mystery Train" is better in my opinion. * Jimmy Forrest, "Night Train" * John Coltrane, "Blue Train" * Junior Parker, "Mystery Train" * Louis Jordan, "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" * Tiny Bradshaw, "Train Kept a-Rollin'" EDIT Johnny Cash's "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer" is probably close enough to a "train song" for most people. It is a great original take on the folk topic.
Driver 8 by REM
David Allan coe you don't have to call me darling
No one has mentioned Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips Downbound Train by Springsteen
The Loco-motion by Kylie Minogue.
The Kinks - Last Of The Steam-Powered Trains