NORMAN'S TRAIN

 

 

 

NORMAN'S RIDE

© Written and Recorded by Pete Deachman 1991

 

 

Come take a trip with me, we'll ride a live steam locomotive

That my Grampa built just after World War II

It's a New York Central Hudson runnin' right outside His yard

We can ride it back to 1962

 

Chorus:

The train is leaving from the station past the rusting water tank

Up the grade towards the weeping willow tree

Blow the whistle, stoke the coal, building up a head of steam

New York Central 5-2 double 0

Just Grampa and me

 

On Saturday, we'd all go up to Pine Street in the car

Where my Grampa's train was waitin' in the yard

With my engineers cap on my head, I'd run that train all day

Shoutin' : "Have your tickets ready - ALL ABOOOOARD !!!

 

Chorus:

The train is leaving from the station past the rusting water tank

Up the grade towards the weeping willow tree

Blow the whistle, stoke the coal, building up a head of steam

New York Central 5-2 double 0

Just Grampa and me

 

Now Grampa's gone, the Station's closed and the water tank's gone dry 

And the tracks have been torn up and they're hauled away

And His train's in a museum, once a year it's on display

I wish He and I could ride His train this Saturday

 

Chorus: 

Cuz ... We'd be leaving from the station past the shiny water tank

Up the grade towards the weeping willow tree

Blow the whistle, stoke the coal, building up a head of steam

New York Central 5-2 double 0

Just Grampa and me

 

Blow the whistle, stoke the coal,

Hear the driver start to roll

New Central taking one last trip

Just Grampa and me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1993, "Norman's Ride" was first featured in a compilation CD of nine Ontario bands called The Orchard Sessions '93. The project was a terrific success, winning SPBGMA's prestigious Best Foreign recording for 1993. Letters came in from radio stations throughout Canada and the U.S., applauding the work, often singling out Norman's Ride as a fan favourite.

 

Having read about the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest in an IBMA newsletter, Pete entered his song, Norman's Ride. The song was selected as one of three finalists in the bluegrass category, in a contest that had over 600 submissions! En route to the 'play-off' at the Merle Watson Memorial Festival, Pete went to Mount Airy, North Carolina, home of SPBGMA's bluegrass station of the year, WPAQ 740 AM, and SPBGMA's bluegrass DJ of the year, Sherry Boyd. Sherry had been giving Blue Mule ample airplay and jumped at interviewing one of the band members and having him play live on the air. Blue Mule music rang through the same studio where countless bluegrass legends had played! The contest was judged by a panel of songwriters, including Carl Jackson and Larry Cordle and Pete won second place. More than the placement, the contest was an opportunity to get the Blue Mule sound to new audiences, to expand horizons and to network.

 

"Norman's Ride" continues to grow in popularity as it continues to reach and captivate audiences worldwide !!

 

 

 

Notes from Pete: 

 

"Grampa used to run it in the summertime on Saturdays and kids from all over used to come and ride..no invitation required. He also ran it at the Central Lakehead Exhibition [CLE] grounds just near the giant milk bottle. "Meet Me At the Bottle" Back in the early 60's."

 

"The train is in the museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa on St. Laurent Blvd."

 

"He [Norman] certainly did [build the train]. As Grannie used to say " Everything but the rivets and screws..."

 

"After Norman passed away, my dad disassembled the track. The train is in Ottawa at the Museum of Science and Technology. It sure was a work of art and Norman too!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

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