THE RAILROADS BUILT AMERICA

by Tom Faigin

American folklore and song owes much to the railroads and their builders for inspiration. In 1830 the first steam locomotive was put into service, but it wasn’t until the 1840’s that rails really started pushing West from the Atlantic coast. Between 1850—1860 there were 21,000 miles of track, mostly in Northern states. "Drill Ye Tarriers," written by Charles Connolly and Thomas Casey in 1888, told about terriors or dogs because both dogs and Irish rock drillers burrowed into the earth to construct tunnels for the railroads.

Every morning at seven o’clock,

There were twenty tarriers drilling at the rock.

The boss comes around and he says,

"Keep still, And come down heavy on the cast iron drill."

And drill ye tarriers, drill

The work was harsh and dangerous, and Irish and Chinese workers who mostly did the building, suffered from low wages, discrimination, sickness and Indian attacks as they struggled across Indian territory.

As time went on automation threatened the livelihoods of many black railroad workers. John Henry won a race with a steam drill around 1870 on the C and 0 Railroad in West Virginia but he gave his life in the contest. His prodigious feat of strength was immortalized in the many ballads of "John Henry" that followed after his death. A new day was dawning and no longer would men be able to hold back the flood of technology.

John Henry was hammering on the mountain,

His hammer was striking fire.

But he worked so hard, he broke his poor heart,

And he laid down his hammer and he died,

Lord, Lord,

He laid down his hammer and he died.

As the railroads expanded ever westward, safety became a new worry as deaths and accidents arose. Songs like "Casey Jones" and "The Wreck of 97" reflected this. And the Carter Family in "Engine 143" immortalized the tragic fate of the engineer trying to stick to his strict time schedule.

Up the track she started, into a rock she crashed.

Upside down the engine turned and Georgie’s breast was smashed.

His head lay against the firebox door, the flames were rolling high,

"I’m glad I was born an engineer, on the C and O road to die."

The American Civil War was the world’s first war in which the railroad played a major role. The North held an overwhelming advantage because it excelled in its ability to transport large numbers of men and equipment to the battlefields. In 1869 the first transcontinental railroad was completed when the Chinese workers from the Central Pacific Railroad hooked up with the Irish workers on the Union Pacific Railroad in Utah. To hasten the process of building railroads across America, Congress gave away large land grants to the railroad companies. Vast sections of public land were parceled out arid later on, the Northern Pacific, Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe Railroad Companies joined the feed at the public trough. Was this an incentive to help build America or was it a colossal giveaway of American resources? In the West farmers felt exploited because the railroads charged them high prices on their freight while trusts and large corporations were given special rebates.

Oh, the farmer is the man,

The farmer is the man,

Lives on credit till the Fall.

And his pants are wearing thin,

His condition it’s a sin,

He's forgot that he’s the man who feeds them all.

To lots of ordinary folks the railroad became a symbol, not of oppression, but romance and freedom. Certainly, it was the cheapest and most reliable form of transportation around. Whether you were running toward a brighter future, those shiny wheels crisscrossed America and beckoned to many.

I polled my cap down over my eyes,

And walked on down the tracks.

Then I caught on empty car

And never did look back.

The lonesome whistle of the train also held great appeal for the prisoner stuck away behind bars for life. If the train’s lights passing by the prison shone on him, the legend said that lie would go free.

Let the midnight special

Shine her light on me.

Oh, let the midnight special

Shine her ever-loving light on me.

In the twentieth century the railroad continued to act as a magnet for the homeless, the jobless and the religious evangelists. Hobos, tramps and bums made up songs like "Danville Girl," "Wabash Cannonball," "Big Rock Candy Mountain" and "Wandering" in their hobo jungles alongside the railroad tracks during the 1920’s and the Great Depression. They often were able to turn the pain of bad times into bright images which spoke of a hopeful future.

I’ve been wandering early and late

From New York City to the Golden Gate.

And it don’t look like

I’ll ever stop my wandering.

The railroad blues could be a painful reminder of loss and an emptiness that couldn’t be filled.

I heard a whistle, didn’t see no train,

Deep down in my heart was an aching pain.

How long, how long,

Baby, how long?

Also, it could remind a person of his longing for home and provide him with the transportation to reach his destination.

I’m a—walking down this track,

I’ve got tears in my eyes.

Trying to read a letter from my home,

If this train runs me right,

I’ll be home tomorrow night,

And I’m 900 miles from my home,

And I hate to hear that lonesome whistle blow.

The railroad was used time and again to convince nonbelievers that they had strayed and it was time to get back onto the path of righteousness. Songs like "Get on Board, Little Children" and "This Train is Bound for Glory" clearly point to a bright future of equal opportunity for all.

This train is bound for glory, this train, (3 times)

Don't ride nothing but the righteous and the holy.

This train is bound for glory, this train.

From our twentieth century perspective there is little doubt that the railroads fostered many injustices and inequities; that fortunes were made ruthlessly; that lives were lost and miseries were inflicted on many innocent people. Nevertheless, the development and growth of more than half the country was made possible by the railroads. The railroads inspired countless songs that became a part of American folklore and legend. The shining rails became a symbol of hope, freedom and opportunity that is uniquely American and yet, at the same time, universal to all of humanity.

Tom Faigin has taught guitar, banjo and mandolin to private students since i960 while teaching guitar classes at UCLA, CSULA, CSUN and many other colleges, schools and organizations. Tom has performed on radio, TV, given concerts and lectured on folk music at California State University at Los Angeles. Currently, Tom is teaching English and ESL at James Monroe High School and actively uses folksongs and guitar music to motivate his students.