(This is about a Milwaukee Road switch engine class I-5, which was stationed at Madison, Wisconsin, during the 1950s. It had a strong syncopated sound. It did a switching run on the branch which went west of town toward Middleton. I used to watch it across the tracks from the university dairy barn. I am not sure that I have given it the correct number. It might have been the 1412, as it was located in the Madison yards, too. But 1458 fits the rythm better.
Puff PUFF puff-puff, puff PUFF puff-puff,
Goes the Fourteen-fifty-eight;
Puff PUFF puff-puff, puff PUFF puff-puff,
As she hauls a load of freight.
Her OLD slide-valves are OUT of-tune,
So she sounds a crazy beat;
Puff PUFF puff-puff, puff PUFF puff-puff,
Goes the Four-teen-fifty-eight.
Her SIX drive-wheels make AW-ful squeals,
As their flanges scrape the rail;
She CAR-ries coal and WA-ter in
A tank with a sloping tail.
She LEAVES the yard with a CUT of cars,
In the early afternoon;
Past UNI-versity A-venue,
As the signals clang their tune.
The STU-dents in the KOL-lege Klub,
Are drinking down their beer;
When the FOUR-teen-fifty-EIGHT goes by,
They all stand up and cheer.
By the CATT-le barns and the CHICK-en pens,
She travels on her way;
Those DAI-ry cows are VER-y smart,
At the u-ni-ver-si-ty.
Past SHORE-wood Hills where the RICH old pills,
Have to stop their cars and wait;
Puff PUFF puff-puff, puff PUFF puff-puff,
Goes the Four-teen-fifth-eight.
Puff PUFF puff-puff, puff PUFF puff-puff,
She hauls a heavy load;
She's the FIN-est little SWITCH engine,
On the whole Milwaukee Road.
Puff PUFF puff-puff, puff PUFF puff-puff,
Goes the Four-teen-fifty-eight;
Puff PUFF puff-puff, puff PUFF puff-puff,
As she hauls a load of freight.
Tune:
The trick here is to get strong syncopation. Originality of tune not guaranteed.
so so-o re- re- so so-o re- re-
so- so- so- so- so- re- fa-a
fa fa-a re- re- fa fa-a re- re-
re- re- so- so fa re do-o