Rest in Peace John
It was with great sadness that we received the news of Johnny's passing from Noelle.
Johnny brightened all of our sessions with his yellow shirt, his red nose and his colourful personality.
He will be deeply missed by all in the large scale railroad world and by family and friends.
John loved music and we chatted a lot about railroad songs.
The captions for these images of Johnny come from Gordon's Lightfoot's classic song "Canadian Railroad Trilogy".
There was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
Long before the white man and long before the wheel
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
But time has no beginning and the history has no bound
As to this verdant country they came from all around
They sailed upon her waterways and they walked the forest tall
Built the mines, mills and the factories for the good of us all
And when the young man's fancy was turning to the spring
The railroad men grew restless for to hear the hammers ring
Their minds were overflowing with the visions of their day
And many a fortune lost and won and many a debt to pay
For they looked to the future and what did they see?
They saw an iron road runnin' from the sea to the sea
Bringin' the goods to a young growin' land
All up from the seaboards and into their hands
Look away sad faces across this mighty land
From the eastern shore to the western strand
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We got to lay down the track and tear up the trails
Open her heart, let the life blood flow
We got to get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
Bring in the workers and bring up the rails
We're gonna lay down the tracks and tear up the trails
Open her heart, let the life blood flow
We got to get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
Get on our way 'cause we're movin' too slow
Behind the blue Rockies the sun is declinin'
The stars they come stealin' at the close of the day
Across the wide prairies our loved ones lie sleeping
Beyond the dark ocean in a place far away
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Livin' on stew and drinkin' bad whiskey
Bendin' our backs 'til the long days are done
We are the navvies who work upon the railway
Swingin' our hammers in the bright blazin' sun
Layin' down track and buildin' the bridges
Bendin' our backs 'til the railroad is done
So over the mountains and over the plains
Into the Muskeg and into the rain
Up the St. Lawrence all the way to Gaspé
Swingin' our hammers and drawin' our pay
Layin' 'em in and tyin' 'em down
Away to the bunkhouse and into the town
A dollar a day and a place for my head
A drink to the livin', a toast to the dead
Oh, the song of the future has been sung
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All the battles have been won
On the mountaintops we stand
All the world at our command
We have opened up the soil
With our teardrops and our toil
Oh, there was a time in this fair land when the railroad did not run
When the wild majestic mountains stood alone against the sun
Long before the white man and long before the wheel
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
When the green dark forest was too silent to be real
And many are the dead men
Too silent to be real
We thank the late Gordon Lightfoot for the use of his lyrics.
Johnny Chuff Chuff will always be remembered in our hearts.
What a wonderful man.
A friend among friends.
A more colourful personality you couldn't find.
Noelle...you were the love of John's life.
Please know that you are always welcome to visit any and all of us in the greater train community.
Johnny we toast the memories we have of all our time spent with you!
You are already deeply missed. 💔💖💓
