The Clickin’ and the Clack

The welded rail don’t click, and the welded rail don’t clack,

and the huffin’ of the Choo Choo ain’t never comin’ back.

There’s no one left so hardy, he wants to stoke the coal,

it’s diesel or electric if you need the train to roll.

Ain’t no rod to drive the wheel, no soot upon the stack,

just a lonesome whine, as it shushes down the track.

Got no valves to turn, and there ain’t no coal to burn,

no jumpin’ thru the boxcar door, the wandering for to yearn.

Oh Lordy how I miss that black a’ blowin’ from the stack,

it ain’t ever comin’ back, like the clickin’ and the clack.

LDT5/20

In the 1960’s I worked for National Cylinder Gas welding ribbon rail for a number of Western railways.

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