The Trainman
On the eastern grade of the switcher yard, down at Medicine Hat
There’s a tendency for cars to roll toward the Dunmore hill
Back when I was switching trains there, one got loose on me
Sit a spell and grip your seat for the beans I'm about to spill
There were only four boxcars, no engine or caboose
A couple of flat decks at the tail
In all six cars were loose
I caught up to it quick enough
Jumped on and tied a hand brake down
Well that didn’t do a gosh darn thing
Get back down on the ground
Outrun that headless train, I mean, catch up to the next car
Jump on again tie down the brake and again she barely felt it
Jump off again and back to running
A boxcar now, outrun it
Jump on again, what’s this a ladder
Yes, the brake’s up there
Up the ladder, tie the brake
Not much effect so far
Down again, onto the ground
Out run the next boxcar
Climb onto and up it like a boxcar acrobat
Crank another hand brake on
She's slowing, how about that
Outrun the next and then the next
My very last handbrake
If this one doesn’t stop these cars
I’ll surely take the cake
A train is coming into town, right down the Dunmore Hill
Won’t they be surprised, if these cars decide to spill
I crank the brake, she squeals and moans
Small train now comes to rest
Big train goes by, and the cars are clear
The engine-man can see
He blows the horn, whips off his hat
And just shakes his head at me
Copyright © Mike Martin | Year Posted 2015
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