Iron and Steam

 

Verse 1

The year was 1873 when we joined confederation
They said they’d help build us a railroad if we became part of the nation
From Tignish to Elmira they layed the tracks on the ground
Like a snake it crossed the Island a lifeline from town to town
The farmers would load their potatoes and wheat
Where the road and rail would meet
The steam would rise up from her stack
As she rolled on down the track

Verse 2

She carried her Island people
From destination to destination
Over streams and over rivers
The number one mode of transportation
But by the mid 1970’s
Trucks were fast and roads were good
This old Iron Soldier
Kept pace the best she could
And when the next decade came
She was considered too slow
Too expensive to maintain
So the railroad would have to go

Verse 3

One day in the 80’s
From destination to destination
Over streams and over rivers
The number one mode of transportation
But by the mid 1970’s
Trucks were fast and roads were good
This old Iron Soldier
Kept pace the best she could
And when the next decade came
She was considered too slow
Too expensive to maintain
So the railroad would have to go

 

One Day in the 80's
They tore the last section down
It made one final run
From Summerside to Charlottetown
There we ended an era
A time of iron and steam
100 years or more of service
Spawned by a politician's dream
Now I walk down the trail
I can’t help but think about the rail
I see her steam rise from her stack
I can hear her rollin down the track
She ain’t never comin back
So let her ghost roll down the track
Let her ghost roll down the track...............

© 1999 John MacAllar Music