Just over four months since the last posting! I stumbled across the thread after a "follow your nose" session on Mudcat.

My comments - the two big names of UK railway songs have been mentioned, Ewan McColl and Dave Goulder. I shouilkd add Don Bilston I'm told (also mentioned above - but I'm not familiar withy his songs.

The big difference in theme between US and UK songs,quite rightly, have been pointed out as (US) stories of people traveling around, with the train as the backdrop rather than the subject' (UK) stories of railway WORKERS; about the job, lamenting the change in technology with modernization.

More recently, we've had the PRESERVATION movement as a subject. Its happened in many countries with a strong railway tradition - but nowhere more than in Britain. Indeed I heard a song about a preserved railway within a few weeks of discovering folk clubs (1973) - having already written some myself whilst still involved with pop bands!

*My song "So Ride With Me", about the Watercress Line/Mid-Hants Railway was recorded (in 1975 I think) by band "Muffin The Mule" (seriously!) on Forest Track Records. Another: "We're All For Swanage" was recorded by Dorset band: Cottage Industry in the early 1980s.

I have 11 railway songs in my current repertoire - learning/relearning more in 2011.

Ian Fyvie