Daddy What's a Train?

Daddy What's a Train?

Bruce "Utah" Phillips wrote a lovely song about a little discussion a father has with his son...after the son asks this question, "Daddy what's a train?"

As I share pics from this past Saturday's train running session I will share the lyrics with you.

We'll follow a few trains along the line and check out the Northland Ore Docks where a series of ore cars await their turn to be made up into a train.  At the end of the posting there is a link to a wonderful video showcasing the many trains Bruce "Utah" Phillips sings about as you listen to this great railroad song.

As Paul hauls lading up to Firgrove, we begin the song,
"Daddy What's a Train?"

"Daddy what's a train?
Is it something I can ride?"

"Does it carry lots of grown-up folks
and little kids inside?"

"Is it bigger than our house?" 
- Oh, how can I explain?

When my little boy asks me,
"Daddy, what's a train?"

"I remember when I was a boy,
living near the track."

"Us kids'd gather up the coal
in a great big gunny sack."

"And then we'd hear the warning sound
as the train pulled into view"

"And the engineer would smile and wave
as she went rolling through."

"She blew so loud and clear that we covered up our ears
and counted cars as high as we could go"

"I can almost hear the steam and the big old drivers scream
with a sound my little boy will never know"

"I guess the times have changed
and kids are different now"

"Some don't even seem to know
that milk comes from a cow"

"My little boy can tell the names
of all the baseball stars"

"And I remember how we memorized
the names on railroad cars"

"The Wabash and TP, Lackawanna and IC
Nickel Plate and the good old Santa Fe"

"Names out of the past and I know they're fading fast
every time I hear my son look up and say"

"Daddy what's a train?
Is it something I can ride?"

"Does it carry lots of grown-up folks
and little kids inside?"

"Is it bigger than our house?" 
- Oh, how can I explain?

When my little boy asks me,
"Daddy, what's a train?"

"Well we climbed into the car
and drove down into the town"

"Right up to the depot house
but no one was around"

"We searched the yard together
for something I could show"

"But I knew there hadn't been a train
for a dozen years or so"

"All the things I did when I was just a kid
how far away the memories appear"

"And it's plain enough to see they mean a lot to me
'cause my ambition was to be an engineer"

"Daddy what's a train?
Is it something I can ride?"

"Does it carry lots of grown-up folks
and little kids inside?"

"Is it bigger than our house?" 
- Oh, how can I explain?

When my little boy asks me,
"Daddy, what's a train?"

Yes we thank Utah Phillips for that great song.

Well we are lucky indeed...

...as we are able to bring the rhythm of the rails...

...back to life...

...each week...

...when we visit Fred's place...

...to meet good friends...

...and share in the fun...

...of gathering together...

...in the name of the railroads...

...that brought the nations of the world together.

We re-create history...

...and geography...

...as we retell the stories of the great trains...

..that ramble and roar down many lines...



...such as the good ole IPP&W and RP&M railroads!

For those who would like to watch a beautiful video of trains plying the rails as Utah Phillips sings the song, "Daddy, What's a Train?" click on the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9erKE8aE5kg

Keep on sharing your passion for trains with our younger generation!
All the best and please stay safe, 
Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada