The Trainman - Mike Martin

On the eastern grade of the switcher yard, down at Medicine Hat 

There’s a tendency for cars to roll toward the Dunmore hill 

Back when I was switching trains there, one got loose on me

Sit a spell and grip your seat for the beans I'm about to spill

There were only four boxcars, no engine or caboose

A couple of flat decks at the tail

In all, six cars were loose

I caught up to it quick enough

Jumped on and tied a hand brake down

Well that didn’t do a gosh darn thing 

Get back down on the ground

Outrun that headless train, I mean, catch up to the next car

Jump on again tie down the brake and again she barely felt it

Jump off again and back to running 

A boxcar now, outrun it

Jump on again, what’s this a ladder 

Yes, the brake’s up there

Up the ladder, tie the brake

Not much effect so far 

Down again, onto the ground 

Out run the next boxcar

Climb onto and up it like a boxcar acrobat

Crank another hand brake on 

She's slowing, how about that

Outrun the next and then the next

My very last handbrake 

If this one doesn’t stop these cars

I’ll surely take the cake

A train is coming into town, right down the Dunmore Hill

Won’t they be surprised, if these cars decide to spill

I crank the brake, she squeals and moans

Small train now comes to rest

Big train goes by, and the cars are clear

The engine-man can see 

He blows the horn, whips off his hat

And just shakes his head at me