I see threads about this but they don't seem to be exactly about this so here goes...

Reuben's Train is a song that I'm starting to hear a lot. I did a little digging and some thinking and I think I found the main origin of this song.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuben_Wells_(locomotive)

Reuben Wells is a locomotive designed in the 1860's by Reuben Wells to run on one specific section of track in Indiana. It was a helper engine designed to push trains up the 6% grade. Typical lyrics:

   1. Ol Reuben made a train & he put it on a track
   He ran it to the Lord knows where
   Oh me, oh my ran it to the Lord knows where
   
   2. Should been in town when Reuben's train went down
   You could hear that whistle blow 100 miles
   Oh me, oh my you could hear the whistle blow 100 miles
   
   3. Last night I lay in jail had no money to go my bail
   Lord how it sleeted & it snowed
   Oh me, ...
   
   4. I've been to the East, I've been to the West
   I'm going where the chilly winds don't blow
   Oh me, ...
   
   5. Oh the train that I ride is 100 coaches long
   You can hear the whistle blow 100 miles
   Oh me, ...
   
   6. I got myself a blade, laid Reuben in the shade,
   I'm startin' me a graveyard of my own.
   Oh me, ...

The first verse there looks obvious to me that this is about Reuben Wells. The train goes to Lord knows where because it doesn't go anywhere - just up and down the one hill.

The engine was returned to Indianapolis in 1968 with a big fanfare & parade. Remember life in Indiana is life in the slow lane. I think that was the 2nd verse... it originally was something like "shoulda been around when that engine came to town". Or maybe it just the engine coming back down the hill.

Verse 4 might be about the engine going into a museum "wher the chilly winds don't blow".

I surmise the rest of it has been accumulated, sort of like a wad of gum under the bed accumulates lint and cookie crumbs.

My collection of old song anthologies etc is kinda limited so if anybody can confirm this...