Merle Haggard famously wrote and performed this song about a ghost train that fell down a ravine and wrecked while trying to send rescue aid to a cave-in 50 years prior and it appears when a cave-in occurs in a nearby mine. Released 1976 on Merle's "My Love Affair with Trains".
30 years ago my dad came home with a tape cassette that had classics train songs he was a train engineer for Chicago northwestern at the time and has since retired from union pacific. I thought I would never hear this song again after I lost the tape.
This song is from his album, my love affair with trains, had the cassette in the 70’s. Cabover truck 4 speakers , the train whistle would move around the cab. His song help keep me awake on longer trips. Thanks for posting
I’ve always loved Merle but I hadn’t heard this song until recently, when my girlfriend played a newer version of it when we were on a road trip. I liked it, so I looked it up and was surprised to find Merle did it first. Gives me chills every time I hear it but I love it.
Merle is my hero, met him years ago. Love his music, ty for this awesome song. I wish i knew you when I was selling my ancient LOL vinyl collection of the greats in Country Music. I have CDs now that i've collected for many years.. still have classics, but hard to find music is right here.. ty so much
I can't "like" this enough. Thank you for posting it. I have been searching for it a long time. My dad used to sing this to me and my sister at bedtime.
I dislike Hag and most country but love story songs and this is a great one. I heard the Wildwood Valley Boys version first, which I enjoyed then found this checking the song out deeper. I enjoy both versions but this is just gold. It reminds me of Merle Travis version of 16 Tons where he starts with the story.
Thank you for posting this i love this song because my mom used to play merle all the time when I was little. How many songs are out there about ghost trains??? way to go
On a cold and rainy night I was sittin' in the light Of my switchman shack of mine post on the mountain The storms were pretty bad and the telephone was dead But it was just eleven hours till the dawn. Then much to my surprice the telegraph jumped in the light As I read the code I thought could this be true The train was on its way headed up to mountain grade But she didn't have no engineer or crew. At the other switch they tried to put her on the mountain side But she kept on coming up the mountain grade But I quickly dowse the light to try to see into the night Maybe I could spot her headlight in the rain. She was poundin' down below I could hear her whistle blow And I thought Lord that's a high and mournful sound Then the telegraph again there's a caving at the mine And the hundred men have burried 'neath the ground. ******************* Lord, she's coming out I see around the bend and straight at me And her ballet is glowin' red as coal in hell The headlinght switchin' wide searchin' all the mountain side But the only sound she's making is a wail. Then I recognized the train by the number and the name It's the miners Silver Ghost 0-40-1 Then she vanished up the track by the lonely switchman shack Like a mother who was looking for her son. Now I heard the story how an engine went to glory Over fifty years ago in the same line It was steaming for the caving there were men needed saving But it missed the curve in trestle near the mine. And every now and then you'll hear a whistle on the wind It's from mountail slides and many men are lost It's a high and lonely wail and searching up and down the mountain It's the train they call the Miners Silver Ghost. The train they call the Miners Silver Ghost. The train they call the Miners Silver Ghost.....
Yep, pure genius and a major influence on others such as another american songwriter genius mr Ronnie VanZant from Lynyrd Skynyrd. "The Hag" was ronnies favorite country singer and his biggest influence. At ronnies funeral in 1977 they played ronnie's favorite song, one of merle's best, I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am. There will never be another ronnie or merle.
I view her as a guardian angel, sent to help those in danger, to make up for the time she failed. Either by request or by curse, that's what I believe her purpose on earth to be.
Merle Haggard famously wrote and performed this song about a ghost train that fell down a ravine and wrecked while trying to send rescue aid to a cave-in 50 years prior and it appears when a cave-in occurs in a nearby mine.
Released 1976 on Merle's "My Love Affair with Trains".
Thanks, i didnt realize he wrote it
30 years ago my dad came home with a tape cassette that had classics train songs he was a train engineer for Chicago northwestern at the time and has since retired from union pacific. I thought I would never hear this song again after I lost the tape.
Dan Tyminsky (from Alison Krauss) did a great cover of it too.
Edit: sorry Wildwood Valley Boys.
This song is from his album, my love affair with trains, had the cassette in the 70’s. Cabover truck 4 speakers , the train whistle would move around the cab. His song help keep me awake on longer trips. Thanks for posting
And 50 years later, this song still sends chills up and down my spine...
A boy from Indiana, Tony Holt does it better than Merle.........Look him up! Its current.
I’ve always loved Merle but I hadn’t heard this song until recently, when my girlfriend played a newer version of it when we were on a road trip. I liked it, so I looked it up and was surprised to find Merle did it first. Gives me chills every time I hear it but I love it.
Merle is my hero, met him years ago. Love his music, ty for this awesome song. I wish i knew you when I was selling my ancient LOL vinyl collection of the greats in Country Music. I have CDs now that i've collected for many years.. still have classics, but hard to find music is right here.. ty so much
I can't "like" this enough. Thank you for posting it. I have been searching for it a long time. My dad used to sing this to me and my sister at bedtime.
I have loved this song for sometime, but to find it by “the Hag” makes it even better!
This man never seizes to amaze me. Another Merle Classic. Thank you sir.
ceases
Classic tune from Merle..Gotta love a spooky train song
We sang this song so many while in the US Navy.
love this song
Merle could sing the phone book and I'd listen
I was told they only sold 10,000 of these records, Well I still have Mine from 1976
Thanks for up-loading this is a Great song.
Awesome!
Great song, love it.
I dislike Hag and most country but love story songs and this is a great one. I heard the Wildwood Valley Boys version first, which I enjoyed then found this checking the song out deeper. I enjoy both versions but this is just gold. It reminds me of Merle Travis version of 16 Tons where he starts with the story.
love this song. have heard from some who say they have seen this train
yes always gives me chills
Thank you for posting, I have been searching all of youtube for this song for what seems like forever.
Thank you for posting this i love this song because my mom used to play merle all the time when I was little. How many songs are out there about ghost trains??? way to go
wish he'd come knocking on our door.
Found this record in the library at Osan Air Base in Korea in 78, made a tape of it but it died years ago. Thanks so much for posting this !
💘 this song...thanks ...
great song...
On a cold and rainy night I was sittin'
in the light Of my switchman shack of mine
post on the mountain
The storms were pretty bad
and the telephone was dead
But it was just eleven hours till the dawn.
Then much to my surprice
the telegraph jumped in the light
As I read the code I thought could this be true
The train was on its way
headed up to mountain grade
But she didn't have no engineer or crew.
At the other switch they tried
to put her on the mountain side
But she kept on coming up the mountain grade
But I quickly dowse the light
to try to see into the night
Maybe I could spot her headlight in the rain.
She was poundin' down below
I could hear her whistle blow
And I thought Lord that's a high and mournful sound
Then the telegraph again there's a caving at the mine
And the hundred men
have burried 'neath the ground.
*******************
Lord, she's coming out I see around
the bend and straight at me
And her ballet is glowin' red as coal in hell
The headlinght switchin' wide
searchin' all the mountain side
But the only sound she's making is a wail.
Then I recognized the train
by the number and the name
It's the miners Silver Ghost 0-40-1
Then she vanished up the track
by the lonely switchman shack
Like a mother who was looking for her son.
Now I heard the story
how an engine went to glory
Over fifty years ago in the same line
It was steaming for the caving
there were men needed saving
But it missed the curve in trestle near the mine.
And every now and then
you'll hear a whistle on the wind
It's from mountail slides
and many men are lost
It's a high and lonely wail
and searching up and down the mountain
It's the train they call the Miners Silver Ghost.
The train they call the Miners Silver Ghost.
The train they call the Miners Silver Ghost.....
love Merle's trainsongs
You got to love that song that is a beer drinking song right there
Thoughts of "Big Iron" and ''El Paso" by Marty (little of Ghost Riders), yet a totally different story.
Thanks.
I have the Monty Mills version of this. Both of these are good
Who's the first guitarist heard on this tune?! Is that Grady Martin?!!! Somebody let me know?! Thanks!
wonder who played the steel on this song
I never have to enter ever inu life on it also no body to touch me rules on it
I have no engineer bill LoL danger ⚠️ dign
How many recordings has the great Merle to his name?,such a prolific genius,thanks for sharing.
Yep, pure genius and a major influence on others such as another american songwriter genius mr Ronnie VanZant from Lynyrd Skynyrd. "The Hag" was ronnies favorite country singer and his biggest influence. At ronnies funeral in 1977 they played ronnie's favorite song, one of merle's best, I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am. There will never be another ronnie or merle.
awsome song, that lads cover versions sweet to if you can hang in 40 odd secs past the bizzar solo lol
can I use this song in my movie?
+Joe Vance you would have to ask the writter and probably record company
Not supposed to play this could cause danger
If you like this song, may I recommend this version: th-cam.com/video/qVCZRQLfkWo/w-d-xo.html
The miner's reaper. Reaper ease the harvest.
I view her as a guardian angel, sent to help those in danger, to make up for the time she failed. Either by request or by curse, that's what I believe her purpose on earth to be.
We sang this song so many times while in the US Navy.