Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo theme)

31 Oct 23 - 01:28 PM (#4186621)
Subject: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: keberoxu

This instrumental piece is by a composer named Edward White.
"Puffin' Billy" was the name of the last operational steam locomotive in the UK, according to one source,
and this instrumental was written to commemorate same.

In the UK, this recording was often heard on
a radio show called Children's Favourites.

Play this to a US native of a certain age, however, and the response will be:
Captain Kangaroo!
referring to the 1950's/60's children's television show.

Puffin' Billy

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31 Oct 23 - 03:09 PM (#4186622)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: keberoxu

Correction: the steam locomotive is in Australia.

As to the US appropriation for Captain Kangaroo,
there does exist a lyric fitted to this tune,
with words by Mary Rodgers Guettel.
Years ago I heard a recording of the Captain Kangaroo actor,
Bob Keeshan, singing this tune and those lyrics.
I'm not having any luck locating said lyrics online, however.

I have vague memories of:
"Mr. Moose's voice is flat/Nothing sillier than that..."
and
"Have a good look at me!"

Rodgers Guettel speaks of this lyric in her memoirs volume, "Shy."

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01 Nov 23 - 09:18 PM (#4186618)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: GUEST,Guest

Yet more tripe generated by this outlet.

The last operating steam locomotive on the Britsh Rail system was quite categorically not called Puffin' Billy.

It may well be that some hack thought it amusing to garner some brownie points from his editor by concocting some fictitious garbage but it just aint true!!

There are of course lots of steam engines operational on preserved railways all over the world and one system near Melbourne in Australia is marketted using the Puffin' Billy title even though none of its engines are so named.

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03 Nov 23 - 09:06 PM (#4186620)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: NightWing

I note that the Description on the YouTube page with the recording states,

The piece was inspired by an old steam locomotive called 'Puffing Billy', seen by the composer while on holiday on the Isle of Wight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wy73UYbNrs

Not the "last" anywhere. However, I've no idea how accurate this is either, of course.

Although I'm certainly of an age where I watched Captain Kangaroo every morning, I don't recall this song from it. *shrug* But I don't recall any OTHER theme song from the Captain either.

BB,
NightWing

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05 Nov 23 - 07:38 AM (#4186619)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: GUEST,Guest

Memory is a strange thing.

So unless the Isle of Wight has moved to Australia or vice versa we are no better informed.

I will not bother looking again.

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25 Jun 24 - 04:31 AM (#4204425)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: GUEST

It seems like there's some confusion here. "Puffin' Billy" is actually a nickname that refers to several different steam locomotives, not just one specific engine. While it's not the name of the last operating steam locomotive on the British Rail system, it has been used colloquially for various engines, including those on preserved railways and even as a marketing title in Australia, as you mentioned. The term "Puffin' Billy" has a nostalgic and whimsical geometry dash association with steam locomotives in general, rather than being tied to a single historical engine.

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26 Jun 24 - 09:25 PM (#4204527)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: Joe Offer

A pufferbilly, of course, is a steam locomotive. I grew up with the song Down by the station, early in the morning, or whatever the proper title of the song is.

"Puffin' Billy" is obviously a takeoff on the more common "pufferbilly." The song sounds like it was composed by Leroy Anderson ("The Typewriter"). I like it, and I liked the "Captain Kangaroo" show. The composer of "Puffin' Billy" was British composer Edward White (1910–1994).

I can't quite figure out what the Guest in the original post is saying, but it seems snotty.

-Joe-

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26 Jun 24 - 09:56 PM (#4204528)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: rich-joy

"Puffing Billy" (note the "g") in Australia, is associated with the narrow gauge railways in Victoria from c.1900 - the Dandenongs line being the most famous. I always wished to ride it, but it was a long long way from the West, where I grew up!

History and current info on this website :
https://puffingbilly.com.au/about/history-heritage/


Cheers, R-J
Down Under (and for whom "Captn Kangaroo" is merely a reference in a Statler Bros song :)

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26 Jun 24 - 10:02 PM (#4204529)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: Joe Offer

R-J, but aren't "Puffing Billy" and the Pufferbilly of my youth the same thing?

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26 Jun 24 - 10:22 PM (#4204531)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: rich-joy

I can't speak for your childhood, Joe :)
I was clarifying the OP's reference to "Puffin' Billy marketing" in Australia.
But yes, the terms Puffing Billy / Pufferbilly are, I reckon, probably synonymous with steam locomotives.....

I do miss Steam Trains. Mucky and gritty the journey may have been, but as a kid I just loved the smell of the smoke, LoL!

R-J

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27 Jun 24 - 10:25 AM (#4204559)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: GUEST,Howard Jones

Puffing Billy was one of the earliest steam locomotives, built around 1813-14, and is the oldest one still surviving. It's now on display in the Science Museum in London. I think "pufferbilly" probaby derives from that, rather than the other way around.

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30 Jun 24 - 06:50 PM (#4204743)
Subject: RE: Puffin' Billy (Capt. Kangaroo)
From: GUEST

In steam locomotive terms, "billy" possible derives from the French "Bouiller". But for undisputed fact, Mr Jones is bang on. As for "last steam locomotive", there are dozens- several hundred- still in operation, in UK alone, and many more worldwide.

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