The opening of the Sydney to Parramatta Railway Line in N.S.W. took place on the 2nd of October 1855. One highlight of the occasion was a military band in all its glory performing William Paling’s ‘The Sydney Railway Waltz’. This had been specially written for the occasion. Similar events were held throughout Australia whenever a new railway line was open where musical items were commissioned. Other musical items songs and poems where written as people began to use these early railway lines.
The Launceston and Deloraine Railway commemorating such an occasion in Tasmania in 1871 captures the impact that steam railway technology had on Australia’s rural population
THE LAUNCESTON AND DELORAINE RAILWAY (Traditional)
Oh, hear the railway whistle boys, its notes are shrill and clear
Just jump into the carriage, there’s nothing you may fear
And let your voice re-echo as you shout it through the air
The Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the men that worked so hard
Hurrah! Hurrah! for I’m the Railway Guard
You’d like to know the stocker, so I have brought his card
On the Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
The Farmers they will bless them when they hear the joyful sound
Of the Launceston and Western rolling o’er the ground
And the native youths, God bless them, some work at last have found
On the Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the men that set us free
Hurrah! Hurrah! for Mr Adye D.
A reserved seat we’ll always keep for Mr Johnny C.
On the Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
Oh yes, we’ll keep a seat for them, and Mr Norwood too
And others who were friends to us will fly the flag of ‘blue’
And England when we sent to her she found us all the screw
For the Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the horse that goes by steam
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the railway whistle’s scream
The people down in Hobart can use the four-horse team
While we go to Deloraine by railway.
They gave us lots of trouble, boys, before we passed the Bill
The main line was a bubble boys, our fondest hopes to kill
But now they’ve got the double boys, although against their will
By the Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! the Debentures they are sold
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the use of England’s gold
For soon we will repay them and those that shares do hold
In the Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
But soon they sent to us to sign their Railway policy
And sent them back already filled to Mr Charles To-be
Why don’t they get a man to work like our Sir Richard D.
For their Main Trunk Railway.
Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! the Trunk is all my eye
Hurrah! Hurrah! do you know the reason why?
They haven’t got the men to work like Dowling, Crookes, and Dry
For the great Shoe Trunk Railway.
Tenders have been accepted, and the work will soon begin
And soon we’ll feel the benefit of the Melbourne Company tin
Yes, every shop in Launceston good stock must now lay in
For the Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the Overend and Robb
Hurrah! Hurrah! for soon they’ll have a job
And Launceston will soon be filled with people - such a mob
For the Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
So let’s return our thanks to them who love the native youths
And who, to gain some work for them, have stood such vile abuse
But crowned their efforts with success, which soon we will adduce
By the Launceston and Deloraine Railway.
Chorus:
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the men who helped us through
Hurrah! Hurrah! for the gallant Railway crew!
And everyone whose motto is the never fading blue
And the Launceston and Deloraine Railway
(Written in 1871 for the opening of that railway line, the song was sung to the tune of “Marching through Georgia”, an American Civil war song. From When We Rode the Rails Adam-Smith, 1983).
Music Score Sydney Railway Waltz used by the Sydney Bush Music Club- Heritage Ensemble for their annual Heritage Ball in 2005 to celebrate “150 years of NSW Railways” To be added
The Geelong Line was Australia's first country railway line that ran between Victoria's two major cities. It was built by a private company and open in June 1857 and later passed into Government ownership as the Victorian Railway system expanded
Music Score The Geelong Melbourne Railway Polka by Julius Albert von Rochlitz 1866 used by the Sydney Bush Music Club- Heritage Ensemble for their annual Heritage Ball in 2005 to celebrate “150 years of NSW Railways” To be added
The Singleton Railway Line NSW opened in 1863 and operated for some years as the first part of a main northern railway link from Newcastle to Queensland before the Hawkesbury River was bridged.
Music Score the Singleton Railway Galop Composed by Marmduke H Wilson to commemorate the opening of the great northern railway 7 May 1863 To be added
Music Score and words of Phillis on the Railways 1870
To be added
For those wishing to research for items that could be added to this Chapter of the Australian Railway Story a complete list of Railway Openings dates and where the celebrations occurred can be found in When We Rode the Rails Adam-Smith, 1983. Any assistance with details and references would be appreciated.
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