The young girl just made the train Didn’t want to be late again Ah but she should’ve been, she should’ve been But the old man on the stairs Slowed down by the years Was left standing on the platform with his cane
Passengers from mountain towns Country folk but city bound Gathered at their stations down the line They found their places on the train A lottery of death and pain For many it was the last journey of their lives
Chorus: And the families of those people Eighty-three ordinary people Can do nothing much, except wonder why
Some sat sleeping against the windows Others read the morning papers Never dreaming that they would be the next headlines But the news swept through the mountains And silently we counted For the train from Mount Victoria had left the line
Chorus
The rescuers came and tried To save some of those inside Hands held hands that each year now hold flowers And scattered roses on the tracks At Granville now bring back The memory of that ill-fated hour
Chorus twice
Note
Many thanks to Nigel Foote for permission to add this song to the Australian Railway Songs collection
Nigel writes: 'I was originally asked to sing the song at the 10th Anniversary of the disaster, held at the Bold Street Bridge Memorial Service in 1987, and then every five years after that, including the 20th anniversary in 1997. I was awarded the Granville Medal for the song.'