This song is the combination of memory and invention.

My city used to have two significant railway stations. The one, a block from Main Street, was for the Canadian Pacific Railway. It's now our city's museum. Several blocks east of the CPR station was the one for the Canadian National Railway, the CNR. I remember being 3 or 4 years old and waiting impatiently for my mother to finish her shift at the CNR lunch counter. This many years later, the CNR station is now an office building.

And, yes, for many years, we had a locomotive on display on the edge of Lee Park. It's since been moved to a less auspicious location.

Beyond the memory of things gone by, the song is the first one I've ever written in Bb. Play along if you dare!

The train doesn't come here anymore The station, just a block off Main, has locks on it's door The waiting room lunch counter is covered in dust And the tracks out front surrendered to rust

There are memories of friends who'd come and go on those tracks The line has been deserted, it's never coming back The world has gone to cars and trucks, abandoned coal and steam The notion of the shining rail has vanished like a dream

In my youth, those trains would come and go With folks on board going where, I don't know They smiled and waved at me as I stood near the track Not knowing when and if they'd come back

There are memories of friends who'd come and go on those tracks The line has been deserted, it's never coming back The world has gone to cars and trucks, abandoned coal and steam The notion of the shining rail has vanished like a dream

There's a lonely engine standing in the park A memory of times gone by No travellers anymore No coal on the tender's floor And no one waiting to embark

The train doesn't come here anymore The station, just a block off Main, has locks on it's door The waiting room lunch counter is covered in dust And the tracks out front surrendered to rust

There are memories of friends who'd come and go on those tracks The line has been deserted, it's never coming back The world has gone to cars and trucks, abandoned coal and steam The notion of the shining rail has vanished like a dream Yeah, the notion of the shining rail has vanished like a dream