I've never heard a recording of this song, but thought some might like to see the lyrics. As some may know, Hank Williams' father was apparently an engineer for the W.T. Smith Lumber Co. at Chapman, Alabama. Two locomotives still exist from this company, and it is likely the father ran at least one of them. A book I saw recently had a photo of a teenage Hank in front of the old 4-4-0 displayed at Chapman. Just trivia, but somewhat interesting.

http://www.lyricscrawler.com/song/97339.html

Come again? There's never been a plinthed locomotive in Chapman that I'm aware of.

Display locomotives are an artifact of the end of steam and the prosperity of the post-WWII period. The notion of a 4-4-0 on display in Depression-era Alabama, in a small southern crossroads community too small to be called a "town," won't pass inspection.

"Derelict 4-4-0" I'll buy.

JAC

This liberal northerner has yet to visit that state, but I note from Doug Bailey's site that the 4-4-0 is at Troy, Alabama today, apparently indoors in a museum.

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomo ... Display=18

Dave Conrad's book of the 1980s listed it at Chapman, displayed at the Eastwood estate on Route 31 north of town.

The photo I saw was in one of these books (can't remember which):

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... s2Pid=9481

The photo showed only the cab and tender, which appeared to be painted and lettered like a display locomotive, though it could have been so painted in actual service. Some photos of the W.T. Smith operation would be interesting.

You learn something new every day.





http://www.rootsweb.com/~albutler/featu ... smith.html

JAC