McCulloch's Wonder

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

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The story of the Kettle Valley Railway is an amazing piece of Canadian history. The railway served the people and of southern British Columbia for 49 years (1916-1945) linking the mineral rich interior of the Province to the Pacific Coastal shipping. Recently, parts of the old KVR have been preserved as heritage sites. The old "Tin Whistle's” right-of-way is enjoying renewed popularity as hiking and mountain biking trails. A marvel of engineering, the KVR owes its existence to the genius and perseverance of one man: Andrew McCulloch.

lyrics

MCCULLOCH'S WONDER

Back in1916 they laid the last rail down
On the Coast-to-Kootenay Railway from Hope to Midway town
Over 3 mountain ranges lay the greatest challenge that any engineer could find
Two ribbons of steel they called the Kettle Valley Railway Line

Andrew McCulloch, just look what you have done
You’ve built a railway, where they said a railway was never meant to run
Where other men would have said “die”
You’d take a second look, ‘cause you never know until you try
Now it’s called McCulloch’s Wonder; the old “Tin Whistle” Line

What dreams inspired your trestled spans along the Myra Canyon?
Or drove Othello Tunnels through Hope’s forbidding gate?

Copper, gold, cattle & coal from across the southern vales
Avalanches ice & snow, through driving wind and hail
Chief Engineer for twenty years, kept watchful eye on the marvel he’d designed
It was called McCulloch’s Wonder the Kettle Valley Railway Line

Aboard a helper engine, up Carmi’s steeper grades
The fireman’s back was breaking, he shovelled eighteen tons a day

Now everything is still, no smoke no steam or rumble in the rails
Water towers and stations gone and few folks left to tell the tale
But buried in these silent hills along the roadside stands a lonely highway sign
Recalls McCulloch’s Wonder the Kettle Valley Railway Line
McCulloch’s Wonder The old “Tin Whistle” 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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