Can anyone name the piece of music often used when showing steam trains on T.V. May be classical.?

Answer 1

Could be From a railway Carriage by Robert Louis Stevenson, it's a poem but can be said with a rhythm like an old steam train travelling quickly.

Or it could be Benjamin Britten's Night Mail - from the famous British Rail ad and 1960s film.

Answer 2

Other candidates are:

Copenhagen Steam Train Gallop- Victor Lombye
Pacific 231- Arthur Honneger
Little Train of The Caiaphuna- Heitor Villa Lobos
or even
Slow Train- Michael Flanders & Donald Swann
all available in various recordings worldwide


For modern traction fans, although strictly Off Topic, there's
Musique A Grande Vitesse- Michael Nyman (so far only recorded by the Michael Nyman Band.)

The Orient Express main theme & soundtrack is by Richard Rodney Bennett.

Finally, one of Antonin Dvorak's hobbies was train spotting.

He was almost arrested for spying whilst collecting numbers at a New York Switching Yard, and also once threatened to forbid pupil Josef Suk's marriage to his daughter after he sent the boy to take locomotive numbers and he returned with the weights of the various tenders!

Fortunately for the current Josef Suk- grandson of Suk and great grandson of Dvorak-he relented!

Answer 3

There is also 'Coronation Scot' by Vivian Ellis. Incidentally, Benjamin Britten's music for 'Night Mail' was written long before the 1960s - in the 1930s in fact for the LMSR film team, long before British Railways was thought of.

But, I must make the point that general questions like this are really incapable of a 'correct' answer. There is no one piece of music 'often used when showing steam trains'

Answer 4

Nine times out of ten it's the Coronation Scot by Vivian Ellis.

It's available on a double CD called British Light Classics, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Barry Wordworth. Label = Warner Classics.

Also on the disc are classics including: Barwick Green (The Archers); Rhythm of the Rails; The Dambusters March etc.

Should be easy enough to get from HMV or Virgin.

Occasionally they play Night Mail.

Answer 5

Trouble is depends which steam train they are showing as there are a number of pieces made for certain engines, like the mail train, Scotsman, Orient, Mallard, and these are quiet often used. Then there are some used from composers who made music to sound like locos pulling.
If you could mention the documentary / show maybe that would give more of a clue.
Sorry to be vague

Answer 6

There's one piece titled "Orange Blossom Special". It's a musical, no lyrics. Originally from the southeast USA, and has been performed by many Bluegrass bands over the years.

Answer 7

No idea, but your question reminded me of the classic film Brief Encounter, which used Rachmaninov superbly! hope this helps.

Answer 8

My Japanese friend tells me it might be "Orient Express" by Philip Sparke? Hope that helps.

Answer 9

I think I know the tune you mean, I believe it's by Benjamin Britten but I don't know the name.

Answer 10

somehow,i also think it's - coranation scot,dee dah,dur,da,da,da,da,de,dur!!!!!!!!!!happy christmas.