A B&W music video from Youtube with an ex British War Department 8F 2-8-0 in service in Israel back in the 1950's, with a EMD g12.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnCCskPc ... re=related

How in the world did you find this? It is fascinating, to see the transition from British colonial influence in the steam power to American, nation of Israel, influence in the diesel power.

It looks like the theme is "last run of steam". Is it a state or national development promotion film?

The song in this video apparently was a significant published recording, here is this "video" of the album cover
http://youtu.be/SIk81W_8Rw8

Wow, I heard that song when I was younger, my hebrew never was that good so I didn't understand it all at the time, but just a translation I found online for those interested here's what the lyrics are saying;

"In Be'er-Sheva's station there stood a locomotive, its number 70-400-14. An exhausted steam-locomotive, an old steam-locomotive, stood in the station foaming smoke. It was time to move and the controller wistle, and also gave the signal in a greenish flag. The locomotive's heart started then to beat and he was ready to go towards the north. refrain: and 'chif-chif-chuf' the locomotive was breathing, and 'tic-tic-tuc' the wheel was beating, and then the rails told each other: "70-400-14 is him!" (B) At the road to the north they were advancing alone, passed the stations but the locomotive didn't stop, they passed through fields, passed on bridges, and when moving fast the distances getting shorter. A locomotive like this, old, black and dirty, how could he still pull four wagons with the passangers? He worked like a horse, every bolt he tired, and his heart almost exploded!!! refrain: and 'chif-chif-chuf'... (C) The locomotive didnt' believe that it is bound to happen - that he'll bring himself once to the cemetery. His rusty friends stood there head to head: 500-50 and 900-3. Then Berman slowly shut the fuel-pipe, the flame the fire went out slowly and so did the steam. And Berman said in a choked voice to the manager here is the 70-400-14.

And 'chif-chif-chuf' the engine is not blowing the veteran tick, the wheels did not knock then he whispered to each other the king is dead, long live the new king"

From watching the video the video the translation above is only a partial but captures quite a bit of it. The composer who wrote the song Chaim Hefer was quite popular, when I was younger I heard that song played a bit, never realized the chif-chif-chuf verse was supposed to be the stack talk. Looks like it wasn't just us in the USA and England who were sad to see steam engines go.

This thread has me wondering, does anyone else know of examples of other songs written to commemorate the last run of a steam locomotive prior to retirement?

Close as I can get:

Requiem for Steam, by Dave Goulder, U.K.:

http://www.davegoulder.co.uk/modules.ph ... page&pid=5

The CD of his steam songs is HIGHLY recommended; I own the first LP which I managed to score at a specialist folk music shop in the States sometime around 1990. Or maybe I got it in the UK in 1991; not sure anymore....

(... but don't buy them all until my wife gets one for me for Christmas, y'hear?)

Nothing on a particular locomotive, but here are a couple on the end of steam--one old, one newer (and featuring TVRM 610):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWOa5HWT0mI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed2uVhNJ_JE

along the same lines...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkkUtzpu ... e=youtu.be

"Last of the Steam Powered Trains" by the Kinks on the Village Green Preservation Society Album from 1969: Obviously some metaphor involved...entire album concerned the end of British customs and way of life...village greens, steam trains, etc. Ray Davies at his best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYtOPjPtVS0

Second song on the video "Picture Book" is from the same album and recently used in HP printer commercials.

Howdy Folks, Well, there are some goodies on youtube if you do some scarching, dig the one with the Jazz soundtrack! Only the French can really pull this off. David Notarius, London UK, ex New Hope Pa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGVs46y7 ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKRCJhLU ... re=related

"Bye Bye Black Smoke Choo Choo": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Ss2coqSQM

Is this the original version?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yatRbdNBzV4

That's the Dave Goulder song, beginning to end. Too bad the guy who made this video didn't have the sense or courtesy to credit the singer/composer.