The Launceston and Deloraine Railway

The song was published in Tasmania in The Railway Songster

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

Notes

Written in 1871 for the opening of the Launceston and Deloraine Railway the songs tells us a lot of what it was like to build a railway in Australia (Tune American Civil War song Marching Through Georgia score to be added