The story of the song is told on another song, Stagolee, who was a friend of Billy Lyens, who might have met billy barker. It is a shame on story tellers, like me, no who railroad bill was all about. Looking at the recordings of railroad bill, I heard that Roba Stanley sang this song. As Andrew Hickey sees, I think there is a mistake on what the song she recorded. In Roba stanley song, I think you were meening stag and the booly a song set to the same tune as railroad bill and tells the same story lines. Thank you folks from what you have said. From joe.