Electric Railway Line

from Stirring Up Ghosts Vol 1&2 by Tiller's Folly

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about

The British Columbia Electric Railway Company at one time could boast the largest electric railway in North America. The BCER was formed in 1897, from a number of separate interurban and street railway systems in Vancouver, New Westminster and Victoria. In 1910, Fraser Valley communities were linked to Vancouver by the B.C. Electric "Inter-Urban" railway, bringing people and produce within easy reach of the larger coastal cities. This service was known as the "milk run." Passenger service through the Fraser Valley to Chilliwack ended in 1950s.

lyrics

ELECTRIC RAILWAY LINE

Climbed aboard the old 1402
On the Electric Railway Line
Thirteen cents in cash fare paid
On the Electric Railway Line
Got my transfer and receipt
It took no time to take my seat
Kicked off my shoes, kicked up my feet
On the Electric Railway Line

From Yarrow, Stewart & Sinclair
Along the Interurban Line
Then through Bellerose, Kidd, Reclaim
Along the Interurban Line
Stopped in Jackman, County Line
Through Coghlan, Warwhoop and Jardine
Meridian, Sullivan, Hyland, Kings
On the Electric Railway Line

All along the Interurban Line
You could hear them motors wail and whine
Clicking down the track and she’s right on time

You can smoke “Wills’ Capstan Cigarettes”
Out on the Observation Car
You know they’re fifteen cents a packet
By the Hastings depot yard
You can read the Buzzer in the vestibule
Or you can thumb through the Farm Service News
Well I’m telling you, you just can’t loose
On the Electric Railway Line

I took a ride the Flying Dutchman once
Along the Interurban Line
Met a little girl from Jubilee
Along the Interurban Line
If you’ve got the price of fare
Well then the BCE can get you there
They just take a little more time and care

On the Electric Railway Line
All along the Interurban Line
You could hear them motors wail and whine
Clickin’ up the tracks and she’s right on time

I saw the Duke of Connaught ride
On the Electric Railway Line
He went down to Lulu Isle.
On the Electric Railway Line
Well that’s your first-rate transportation
Getcha to and from your destination
So better get lined up at the station, boys
For the Electric Railway Line

credits

from Stirring Up Ghosts Vol 1&2, released June 1, 2015
Bruce Coughlan – vocals (all tracks) acoustic guitar (2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24) wood flute (1, 5, 10, 13, 14) whistles (1, 5, 14, 20, 24)
Laurence Knight – electric bass (all tracks) vocals (7, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23)
Nolan Murray – fiddle (5, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24) mandolin (4, 5, 6, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24) 5-string banjo (5, 14, 22, 23)
Joby Baker – drums (4, 20, 21, 24) Whurlitzer piano (4) vocals (20)
Ian Cameron – fiddle (1, 11) mandolin (1)
Noel Chalmers – military drum (20)
Aaron Chapman – vocals (14)
John Cowan – vocals (15)
Doug Cox – dobro (21)
Jack Duncan – percussion (1)
Colleen Eccleston – vocals (21)
Bear Erickson – elec. guitar (20) vocals (20)
Geoff Eyre – drums (2, 8, 17)
Tatiana Hancheroff – vocals (17)
Daryl Havers – accordion (3)
Dave Keogh – vocals (14)
Larry Knechtel – Hammond (15)
Craig McGregor – acoustic guitar (7, 10, 13, 17) elec. guitar (3, 17) octave mandolin (8) mandolin (9)
Jim McWilliams – bagpipes (20)
Sandy Marshall – bagpipes (20)
Chris Nordquist – drums (14, 15, 19, 23)
Gord Maxwell – vocals (2, 3, 11, 18, 22)
Aiden O’Brien – uillean pipes & whistles (4) vocals (4)
Paul O’Brien – vocals (4)
Peter Padden – vocals (2)
Eric Reed – elec. guitar (23) mandolin (6, 16) vocals (16)
Phil Robertson – drums (5, 12, 18, 22)
Mike Sanyshyn – fiddle (3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17, 22) mandolin (8, 12, 22)
David Sinclair – elec. guitar (4)
Victor Smith – fiddle (9) whistles (3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13) silver flute (17)
Shawn Soucy – drums (3, 9, 10, 13) percussion (8, 9, 10, 13)
Robbie Steininger – acoustic guitar (1, 5, 22) elec. guitar (18) dobro (18, 22)
Chris Stevens – 5-string banjo (7, 9, 12)
Ed Wagstaff – bagpipes (20)
Valdy – vocals (24)

All songs, music & lyrics by Bruce Coughlan (SOCAN) except: The Ballad of John Rae by Bruce Coughlan & Jim Smith (SOCAN)
All tracks produced by Laurence Knight except: Laurence Knight & Steven Drake (15, 23) Joby Baker (4, 21, 24) Bruce Coughlan (6, 14, 20) Mastered & re-mastered by Joby Baker Thank-you to our families, friends and fans for all your support and inspiration!!
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our Kickstarter Stirring Up Ghosts initiative. Special thanks to Rob Armstrong, Katharine Barrett, Bob Chenoweth and the Lexvolds. Special thanks again to Dave & Paula Reed whose initial contribution made this project possible.

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Bruce Coughlan Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Pacific Canadian-based recording & performing artist, Bruce Coughlan has spent decades making Acoustic Roots Music Music of all descriptions. An expressive singer and rock-solid guitarist, Bruce is driven by one guiding principle: It's all about the Song. ... more

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