My 06:24 posting was sent by mistake, unfinished. A bit later, when I had finished what I wanted to say, no new postings were appearing, so here goes again.

> I never heard of a version by H. Boardman, but I think you may talk of Tony Rose's version. <

On looking back at the web page where I found both the song and Harry Boardman mentioned, I see that there were indeed other singers on the record, including Tony Rose.

I can correct at least two mis-hearings in the above transcription. Verse 2, line 1, "The signals on at Newton Heath" ("on" meaning that they indicated that the train had to stop, thus providing an opportunity for the driver to send the fireman to the shed). Verse 2, line 3, the place is Moston. That and Newton Heath are both on the outskirts of Manchester. Verse 2, line 4, I think MacColl sang "both front fenders" rather than "both front tenders", but I could be wrong. Anyway neither makes sense. "both injectors" would make sense, but I have just realised that the most plausible original is "both front sanders", whatever MacColl actually sang.

I don't know about "up Wood Cabin". I heard it as something like "Hopwood cabin" but I can see no such place on the map between Moston and Castleton.

Unfortunately none of this gets us to the fuller version of the song.

Richard