What’s
In a Song?
The
Last Train to San Fernando
by
Gyan Fernando
Some people who lived through the 1960s might remember
the song “Last Train to San Fernando” popularised by Johnny Duncan and the
Bluegrass Boys. This song was released in 1957. At about the same time there
was another version of the same song by Jamaica Johnny & His Milagro Boys.
Over the years a popular myth built up as to the origin
of this song. It was generally attributed to the closure of the Colonial built
railway line in Trinidad and Tobago. The railway line existed between 1876 and
28 December 1968.
It is immediately clear therefore that the song was
around long before the railway line was closed. The song had nothing to do with the closure of the line which came many years later.
Glen Beadon, a native of San Fernando, writing in Guyanese
Online has analysed the event, the song and the myth.
According to him:
“The very last train, was the service which departed
platform 1, Port of Spain railway station on Monday August 30th 1965 at 5:12pm
(it was 37 minutes late, scheduled to depart at 4:35pm)
The Locomotive which hauled the last service train was
TGR (Trinidad Government Railway) Engine No27, which was a member of the 21
Class 4-6-0 locomotives.
This train really was the very last passenger train to
San Fernando.”
Images:
Toy train: Copyright free clip-art
Johnny Duncan: Author not known
References:
Trinidad and Tobago Railway: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad_Government_Railway
Johnny Duncan:http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirj/johnnyd.htm
Johnny Duncan:http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirj/johnnyd.htm
What about "Last Train to London" by Electric Light Orchestra? Alas, no-one sings about trains anymore.
ReplyDeleteKumaran, Singapore