Categories: Christmas, Holidays, Random Photos

All aboard! The Christmas train has arrived!

I was on a Main Street trolley admiring the Christmas lights when I suddenly spot model trains in motion. I immediately told the trolley driver I wanted off.

Front door of Number 10 Main Street Apartments

I love columns on buildings….always have!

This is the cross street

After some Googling, I have the perfect lyrics to accompany these photos. Clicky here for John Fogerty’s rendition.

When I was young, I spent my summer days playin’ on the track.
The sound of the wheels rollin’ on the steel took me out, took me back.

(Chorus):
Big train from Memphis, big train from Memphis,
Now it’s gone gone gone, gone gone gone.

Like no one before, he let out a roar, and I just had to tag along.
Each night I went to bed with the sound in my head, and the dream was a song.

To view photo in Flickr, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/yummies4tummies/5238432708

(Chorus):
Big train from Memphis, big train from Memphis,
Now it’s gone gone gone, gone gone gone.

Well I’ve rode ’em in and back out again – you know what they say about trains;
But I’m tellin’ you when that Memphis train came through,
This ol’ world was not the same.

(Chorus)
Big train from Memphis, big train from Memphis,
Now it’s gone gone gone, gone gone gone.

The chief engineer/conductor for this model train track is Philip Hollingsworth
(clicky here for his photo in the Commercial Appeal)

Memphians, you don’t wanna miss this beautiful train track display in downtown

Also, The King–Elvis–recorded “Mystery Train” at Sun Studio and was released in August 1955. Here’s the first verse and chorus:

Train I ride, sixteen coaches long
Train I ride, sixteen coaches long
Well that long black train got my baby and gone

Train train, comin’ ’round, ’round the bend
Train train, comin’ ’round the bend
Well it took my baby, but it never will again
No, not again

(Clicky here for song and watch slideshow of Elvis pics)

I didn’t realize there were quite a few songs about trains until last night (Google is my friend). I’ve determined that these are my Top 3:

“Love Train” by The O’Jays (clicky here for song)

People all over the world (everybody)
Join hands (join)
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world (all the world, now)
Join hands (love ride)
Start a love train (love ride), love train
The next stop that we make will be England
Tell all the folks in Russia, and China, too
Don’t you know that it’s time to get on board
And let this train keep on riding, riding on through…

“Peace Train” by Cat Stevens (clicky here for song)

Now I’ve been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
Now, I’ve been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
Someday it’s going to come

For out on the edge of darkness
There runs the peace train
Peace train take this country
Come take me home again…

“Last Train Home” by Pat Methany (clicky here for song)

Next post comin’ round the bend will be Farmers Market in downtown Memphis.

RANDOM PHOTOS: US Grant Hotel

RANDOM PHOTO: US Grant Hotel (with red lights)

One of the best Christmases ever!

Bathhouse Row with Xmas lights (at night)

Christmas lights along Main Street

First Tennessee Bank

Christmas Trolley

Sherwood’s Trail of Holiday Lights

The welcoming committee at Kress

Peabody Christmas Tree

Tags: downtown, Main Street, Memphis, model trains, xmas lights