Just heard this song. "City of New Orleans"

[Rule3]

Listening to Sirus XM
One of those songs that bring you back to a specific place and time. I took a ride on Amtrack from Florida to Washington DC to see my Sister who lived outside the city. Met a girl on the train had a great time, passing those nameless towns, folks eating the food they brought in folded cloth napkins, Club car, the song is so good!
I would love to take the train trip North like the Rocky Mts or something,

Originally by Steve Goodman made famous by Arlo Guthrie,

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SfPyg-mGhU[/ame]


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0hCVmmlJuY&list=RDa0hCVmmlJuY&start_radio=1&t=131[/ame]


http://www.chimesfreedom.com/2016/12/12/city-new-orleans/

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Thanks for the memories

 

[jimmyj]

I like the Willie Nelson version

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The other Chi Town - Big Easy train was the Panama Limited.
Any songs about it?
Probably too hard to rhythm?

 

[OLDSTER]

Steve Goodman; a musical genius who left us way too soon.

 

[fordson]

Great song. Arlo put something into it that no one else could.
Poetry put to music

"Riding on the City of New Orleans
Illinois Central Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail
All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields
Passin' trains that have no names
Freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles........."

 

[pawngal]

That song always reminds me of the train trips I had as a kid. The Union Pacific "City of Los Angeles" or "City of Los Vegas" The dome cars, the fancy dining cars with great food, the club cars where the gentlemen could have a cigar & a cocktail. Leisure travel at its finest. (Except if you happened to be riding on New Years Eve with a bunch of Marines!)
The Union Pacific station in Vegas was at the end of Fremont St., a VERY impressive sight at night for a seven year old in the 50's.

 

[SC_Mike]

 

[Doug M.]

I rode that train back to Champaign after taking the Illinois Bar in 1986.

 

[PALADIN85020]

It's been my firm opinion that Willie rules with this song, which has been a long time favorite of mine.

For those interested, hear it here:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XyRdJr4LSc[/ame]

John

 

[Wyo]

Watched Arlo do it live in a concert last year. Absolutely on of my favorites.

 

[lawandorder]

My fondest memory from childhood was a train trip out west. My Father, Mother and I left our small Ozarks town of under 300 folks on the Frisco.
Remember pulling a long grade near Koskanong Mo. that gave doubts if the train could climb it. The Butcher's boy made his way up the aisle selling his sandwiches and cokes. Got to KC sometime in the night and transferred to the Sante Fe El Capatain to Los Angeles.

What an experience for a 10 year old county boy.
I saw America.

Had one partial memory of arriving in LA at Union Station and walking through a beautiful tunnel. Didn't connect until I looked at images of Union Station online about a month ago..

I will always believe the day the last regular passenger train ran was both a sad day and a mistake for our country.

There is just something about railroads that touches the soul.

 

[RGNewell]

I like the Willie Nelson version

And Hank Snow!

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Let's switch to worse train rides.
One night I rode the slow roll special from Ogden to Cheyenne.
Long night!

 

[Kinman]

Always liked that tune performed by Arlo, brought back my memories of travelling by train as a child. We moved everything we owned on the train a couple of times. Portland Ore. to San Diego, San Diego to Iowa, Iowa to Spokane. It was always an adventure and allowed freedom of movement unlike any other method of travelling I had experienced. Oddly before the Covid thing I was thinking about taking the train down to New Orleans by myself. New Orleans is about the only big city I have any interest in revisiting, I think its the perfect combination of culture, people and food.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

Great song. Great period in time. While everyone posts their favorite version. Here's my favorite with Randy Scruggs and John Prine (God rest his soul).

<iframe src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/6u0hGxZHApLBkisgd6i0Hk" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>

 

[bigwheelzip]

A couple of years ago, hubby grabbed the Amtrak Crescent that originates in New Orleans, when he needed to get to NYC overnight. Got a small sleeper, and loved the whole experience. Service and food were excellent, and he was treated like a VIP from the moment the train pulled into the station. He recommends it to everyone that has the time for leisurely travel.

 

[jrm53]

Steve Goodman was my favorite singer to do "The city of New Orleans" after he did it no one could live up to his version in my opinion. Rule3 thank you so much for posting Steve Goodmans version I went up and clicked on him and heard him again I knew he had passed early, again Thanks. Jeff

 

[charlie sherrill]

Steve Goodman wrote and rewrote "Standing In The Rain" for David Alan Coe. Another good song written partially about a train.

 

[Golddollar]

A couple of years ago, hubby grabbed the Amtrak Crescent that originates in New Orleans, when he needed to get to NYC overnight. Got a small sleeper, and loved the whole experience. Service and food were excellent, and he was treated like a VIP from the moment the train pulled into the station. He recommends it to everyone that has the time for leisurely travel.

Seven dollars for a hot dog?