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McCulloch's Wonder

from A Ripple in Time by Tiller's Folly

/

lyrics

McCULLOCH’S WONDER

Back in1916 they laid the last rail down
On the Coast-to-Kootenay Railway from Hope to Midway town
Over three mountain ranges lay the greatest challenge
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 shoveled 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
Here lies McCulloch's Wonder; The Kettle Valley Railway Line
McCulloch's Wonder; The old "Tin Whistle" Line

credits

from A Ripple in Time, released June 1, 2002
Bruce Coughlan – vocals, guitar, wood flute & whistles
Laurence Knight – bass, vocals
Nolan Murray – fiddle, mandolin, 5-string banjo
Michael Santshyn– fiddle, mandolin & vocals
Robbie Steininger – electric slide guitar, mandolin & dobro
Phil Robertson – drums
Ian Cameron – fiddle, mandolin & guitar
Chris Stevens – 5-string banjo
Gord Maxwell – vocals
Jack Duncan – percussion
John Ellis – shakers & guitar
All songs composed by Bruce Coughlan (SOCAN) except; Heel & Toe (trad arranged by Nolan Murray & Bruce Coughlan, Muddy Frogwater & An Dram Buidheach – by Nolan Murray (ASCAP)
Produced by Laurence Knight

Engineered by John Ellis & Eric Reed
Pre-production by Ian Cameron
Recorded at Magic Lab Recorders, Surrey, BC
The Factory, Vancouver, BC and Red Stripe Studios, Burnaby, BC
Tracked at NAL Studios, North Vancouver, BC
Mastered by Jamie Sitar at Suitesound, Vancouver, BC

Graphics by Bruce Coughlan

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.

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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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