The Last Train to San Fernando 1965
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- Опубликовано: 16 сен 2011
- "The Last Train To San Fernando" - The Event, The Song and The Myth.
Most people will tell you that San Fernando's last service train was hauled by engine TGR No11 which today is on display at Harris Promenade, San Fernando. This is incorrect.
The very last train, as this short video reveals, was the service which departed platform 1, Port of Spain railway station on Monday August 30th 1965 at 5:12pm (it was 37 minutes late, scheduled to depart at 4:35pm)
The Locomotive which hauled the last service train was TGR (Trinidad Government Railway) Engine No27, which was a member of the 21 Class 4-6-0 locomotives.
This train really was the very last passenger train to San Fernando.
Over the years both the event and the song - "The Last Train to San Fernando" - have become a part of Trinidad folklore, although largely through myth rather than fact.
It has always been highly amusing to me that almost every photograph which appears in Trinidad relating to the railways inevitably carries the caption 'The Last Train to San Fernando'. Perhaps in reality, metaphorically referring to the train in the song (Dorathy's ultimatum?) and not the real historic event. And both are quite different.
Even more amusing is the misunderstanding, both locally and internationally, about the true meaning of the song and who exactly wrote it.
First of all there is no doubt, despite what many believe, that the song is about the City of San Fernando in Trinidad and not San Fernando in Colorado, USA or anywhere else. As a native of San Fernando myself, the song has always intrigued me, just as the railways have.
The song became a huge international hit by American Johnny Duncan in 1957. Johnny Duncan's producer was Dennis Preston who had a Caribbean wife. She had apparently first drawn the song to Preston's attention. It was claimed that the original song was written by the "Duke of Iron" (Real name was Cecil Anderson) but my information reveals that "Duke of Iron" was a West Indian performer in the USA who frequently performed "Last train" making it very popular abroad. He was not the original composer.
Michael Anthony's book "Glimpses of Trinidad and Tobago" published in the early 1970s indicates that "Last Train" was composed by MIGHTY SPITFIRE (local Trinidad Calypsonian, whose real name was Carlton Joseph Gumbs) in the 1940s as -- "a celebration of a late night stay in Port of Spain rather than the allusion to the closing of the San Fernando line".
I then came across a listing of Calypso Monarch competition winners, over the years, where I found the song listed as the 1950 winner, composed by the MIGHTY DICTATOR (Real name was Kenny St Bernard).
As already indicated above, the closure of the line to San Fernando occurred in 1965, a full 15 years after the song won the 1950 Monarch Competition. So, to me, Michael Anthony seemed to be spot on with his information. In any case, one only has to listen carefully to the lyric to establish that the song has nothing to do with the closure of the San Fernando line at all.
Nevertheless, over the years it has certainly taken on a symbolic significance almost becoming the remembrance anthem for the closure of the Railway to San Fernando. Perhaps, justifiably so because it is fabled to have been played by guitarist as the "Last Train to San Fernando" pulled out of Port of Spain in 1965.
In conclusion, the locomotive which hauled the very last passenger train is something which was forgotten about for many years. At the time it was paid little attention being regarded as just another "train".
The very last service train to San Fernando was hauled by Locomotive No 27 with three steel body coaches and two TGR brake vans in toe.
Locomotive No27, was built by the Montreal Locomotive Works (works number 63091) of Canada in 1921. The locomotive has been immortalised by David Moore in his (April) 1976 painting at San Fernando railway station.
No 27 spent her final years quietly rusting away at St Joseph along with 12 other TGR locomotives abandoned there in 1968 when the railways perished.
Now, thanks to many people who have been instrumental in gathering historic information about the Railways of Trinidad (so listed in the video) we can now enjoy the event and the song in one, discarding the myth.
The event was captured on video by the national film unit and I have included other relevant footage and photographs to complete the story so far.
Hopefully more of this delightful material will surface in future.
I do hope that you enjoy this as much as I have.
Glen Beadon September 2011
It still confuses me as to why a newly independent country will simply dismantle and dispose of an inherited mass rail system instead of upgrading and expanding it.
Brent B. philippines declared independance 1898 but america took it for 40 years japan 4 years but before america it was spain 333 years
second independance was 1946 but really the actual independance is always June 12 1898
Late response but the government sucks
Its easy, corruption, just like how they are corrupt now, the politicians of the newly independent Trinidad and Tobago started to stick their fingers into the Revenue from the Train and ran it into the ground. They didnt care, just like how they close down iscott the steal plant, BWIA , sold the aircraft slot at heathrow in england for a lowly sum of $ 5million when it was worth 10 times more, closed down caroni and recently petrotrin.
They continue to sell off the crown jewels of a nation for pennies without a care in the world.
Guys, it wasn't corruption or anything like that, the amount of money being made was simply squashed by the expenditure to keep it running. It was as simple as that. Unfortunate yes, but still, simple.
Politician ruin beautiful country too much crimes, corruption, and lawlessness now. T&T deep economie crisis now.
My Father drove the Trains from Port Of Spain to Rio Claro, he was from Belmont and he met my Mother who lived in Mamoral "the Country" while driving to Rio Claro, they eventually got married and there you are I am here. His brother was a Fireman and he died in the Savonetta Train Crash.
I believe we are related....
I jus arrived here but better late than never, to see this priceless piece of history. Thank you, that I cud now place a visual unto my mom stories.
I just get these pangs of unfounded nostalgia watching this video. To see a fully functional passenger train in Trinidad must have been quite the sight!
+Thalia Ram New modern one on the way! 8)
I grew in BARATARA hoping train,I also went to school from BARATARA to PORT OF SPAIN travelling on the TRAIN every day, that was very safe, I enjoyed every moment of it
The train ticket from SAN JUAN to P O S cost 10cents, per trip, then you had a weekly ticket,and a monthly, where the bus route is now was the train route from ARIMA to P O S it was great fun travelling to school on the train love you,Stephen Stanisclaus.
Did you ever go there? Why did they shut down the railroad? Sounds like it was needed.
wow i was not born till 20 yrs after but something inside my heart felt sad
I used to ride the east/west train from Tunapuna to POS starting in 1968. Shortly thereafter that run was stopped so I had to travel by bus. I was 11 and felt so big traveling to town by myself to get to High School. I liked the train ride much better than the bus and I am grateful that I was able to experience it if only for a short time. Thanks for your posting of the final north/south train ride.
I was born in 1965, and my mother always told me she took me as a baby on that historic ride. Nice, informative video (just the other day my sister was telling me the locomotive on Harris Promenade was the "last train". Now I can inform her too!). Still living in (once sweet) T&T.
As a kid with a ukulele in the UK I learned this song from the skiffle version, but I always seemed to wind up playing it calypso style. Now I know why. With one clip you've extend my knowledge of both music and railways. Thanks!
Larry Wharf
Home sweet Home.
Love the memories My Mom and I use to ride the train to Rio claro on picnics that she used to get invited to by friends of hers good old days for real if I can go back in time but I am bless to cherish the good memories of my mother Mona Ali may her soul R.I.P
Glad you found it interesting. The song has been a subject of intrigue to me for many years. I just had to get to the bottom of the story. Do read the text account which accompanies the video. Thanks for watching.
You can also do a historic one about the train station that was at CROSS Crossings San Fernando,it was across from Skinner park ,the station was there on till the 80'sand then came the highway all was destroy,we in Trinidad have habit of destroying our history.
Am a big ''hard stones man'' as we say in TnT and a little tear ran down my left eye here as i looked at this, thinking to myself '' O how nice those times must of been'' This is when Trinidad and Tobago had 100% love in its hearts.. Now even babies are dying :'( it really hurts!! sigh! God help us!!
+dale douglas True bro,but we would could bring it back.
It will not happen because T&T deep economy crisis now, and too much crimes, corruption, and lawlessness affect the economy too.
The train left 37 minutes late Trini time, but it never fails how these memories are so so sweet and brings tears to the eyes. Our Trinidad and Tobago God Bless our little Island In The Sun. A little country that now rules the Caribbean with it's wealth and power.
Zelina Ali-Aziz
Yea but the transport system in a mess the trains could have been another form of transport if they re routed the train lines to underground sub way stations do not pick for any of the governments that pass through or the current one they closing down everything and make us third they only focus on tourism in tobago all year round and trinidad just carnival alone how many beautiful places trinidad have just as tobago with blue green waters and they do nothing to educate us on it its a shame
Good work Glen. This is such a historic moment in Trinidad & tobago. I'm happy that you were interested enough to document and share.
Great video. I lived in Sangre Grande from 1981 to 1986 and we had a rail line at the back of our house. I just couldn`t imagine seeing trains full of fair paying passengers going by but my mum remembers them well. The closest that i had gotten to Trinidad`s rail history was a
couple of water towers that were still standing in San Fernando, as i remember. I`m not sure if they would still be there today, however.
Trinidad has this amasing railway history which no one, up to now, has
documented, and thank you so much for doing so.
Hello Gavin, thanks for your comments, much appreciated. The line to Grande opened on 25 August 1897 and took two years to build. Arima to Sangre Grande was 15 miles 55 chains in length. The last train from Sangre Grande to Arima ran on 1 April 1953.
Wonderful historical documentation. Good job to all who contributed sharing a piece of Trinidad I would have otherwise never witnessed. Thanks! Have to share with my grandmother she'll enjoy it too!
whose way watching this in 2017. miss the simple life
2018
2020
I was only twelve years old at the time but what a life we had in Trinidad back in those ole days. I look back with great pride and honor to be a little part of that history. I bow in salutations and gratitude.
A wonderful bit of video Glen, very evocative and sad to see the end of another railway even though it was so long ago.
Nice to see that someone has recorded the "true" history of the last train to San Fernando, in particular, the origin of the calypso "Last Train to San Fernando". I grew up in Curepe and the trains to San Fernando passed alongside Evans Street, where my aunt lived near to St. Gill Halt (Station), as it was known in those days. The TGR UWI Car Park (Western side of the grounds) now occupies the exact place where the railroad tracks were located. This video brings back fond memories.
I missed the olden days, i was born 1965. Love to hear the old time songs and dance too.
Bottom line was that people in the 1960s stopped using the railway. The route taxi became the fashion and people saw it as a status symbol. Many will argue with me over this but you only have to ask the old TGR engine drivers and the real reason is clear. People were not using the service.
They stop using it because the trains we getting outdated all the government had to do was revamp the system and rail ways change the trains to newer ones or make room for underground subways it would have benefited us so much today but no they choose to give up on it all together look at how much traffic it does have when it wasn't this pandemic time eh it could have assisted as a form of transport people always complaining about the taxis, maxis and buses its a shame
Brings back memories of that time. My uncle used to be the engine driver on that route. May he rest in peace. Thanks for sharing.
Glen thanks for posting this
thanks for sharing, i would love to see a map of all the train tracks back then
Me TOO!!
Thanks for the video
Thank you for the information. And great historical footage as well. Thank you very much
great video. thank you for posting
Thank you Andrea, the song is a real gem.
@TigerTnT1 Thanks. Curepe was a busy junction. The signal box not only controlled the level crossing gates but all of the signaling equipment which controlled the safe passage of trains. The lines through Curepe, although double, were actually two single lines side by side where traffic flowed both ways. The double track section, 7m into P-O-S, began ¾ m back at St Joseph. This section was doubled in 1923 following a severe accident in 1915 at Mackenzie Bridge, where 4 perished & 30 injured.
This is wonderful!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Glen :)
I've wondered about the song since I was knee-high to a thing with very low knees. Thanks very much!
You made a great honour to the music and the railway making the video. congratulations and thanks a lot for sharing. By the way, i have an edmondson ticket from TGR POS to San juan dated Oc 25 53. I can scan it for you if you want.
nice to see what i always hear my grandparents talk about, thanks for this vid
WOW!!!!!!! thanks a lot for that video guys..........WOW!
Great vid, Glen Beadon. Thanks for posting! :-)
Thank you Glen for your informative words.
Thanks for sharing this piece of History
Yes I agree with you. Although it was fashionable to be rid of the train at the time, in retrospect, we could have very well done with it today. Imagine the ease with which so many people could have moved in and out of POS during the rush hour periods...if only. Thanks for commenting.
@MrPorteno I know the area around San Fernando railway station at Kings Wharf. The station was built at the foot of the hill on the seafront. It was once the epicenter of the Town. Today it lies ruined, abandoned and forgotten. I don't understand why the PTSC never up kept the building like it did with PoS. Imagine, if only trains had been invested in we may have had a very special transport system today. Now we can only dream.
I wish I could've experienced a train ride in T&T. This just takes me back to the pure Trinidad.
+Trevor Rodriguez The dream is becoming a reality,stay tuned!
I agree that Trinidad would be very well served today with a good rail transportation system. Sadly this is now a very complicated thing to do. Thanks for commenting.
@DewiDavies Hello Dewi, thanks for your comments, much appreciated. The San Fernando line was very special to me because it was where my love of railways first started. I remember the day my parents told me that trains would never run again to San Fernando, I could not believe it but the tracks did fall silent and so they remained for over 10 years until taken up @ 1976. I wish I had taken more photos, but then don't we all?
Thanks to you, the railway preservationist, we have something left.
According to my Trinidadian friend - the late Dr Patricia Bishop (RIP) - the UK's Beeching report which recommended the slashing of (the UK's) railway network influenced policy-makers in Trinidad, which only newly independent at that time, and still looked somewhat to the the ex-mother country for policy advice. There is also a recording of Woodbrook Invaders Steelband playing this in 1950 (Calypso Calaloo Rounder CD 1105) one of the earliest recordings of a steel band! Thank you for posting.
Nice video. It brought back memories. I travelled on these trains to go to high school just before they stopped running. That is where high school girls and boys had their dates while going home.
Great piece of local history. Thank you!
Thank you Ian, glad you enjoyed it. I agree with you, it would have been a very useful service today had the railway survived only a few more years back in the late 60s. Sadly, I don't think we shall ever see it return despite all the talk.
Jeez, I wouldn’t have to deal with traffic to get to San Fernando
Great documentation! Thank you! For me, in the Netherlands, it was just great party music with a refrain that we could sing along...just hearing it makes me smile - good start of the day.
If the railway had lasted a few more years then it probably would not have been closed down. I remember what happened on the roads by 1971. It was total gridlock at rush hour and we knew this would eventually happen. Today the railway would make life so much easier for commuters POS bound each morning.
Hello Claire, glad you enjoyed the video. So many people in Trinidad today have never even seen a cane train let alone a passenger train. You are very lucky to have traveled on one. Thank you for commenting,
@penedawn Thanks again. The Caroni estate engines in the 'Trinidad Lost Railways' video were all British, built in Leeds by the Hunslet Engine Co. British Railways had 69 of them at one time. Engine No27 in this 'Last Train' video was built in Canada by The Montreal Locomotive Works. Before these engines arrived in 1919 we had smaller, British built, Kitson engines. There is one preserved on display in San Fernando.
I felt the exactly the same about the Minera branch from Wrexham to the limeworks at Minera. Passenger traffic finished in 1931 (at one time the newly restored G.W.R. steam railmotor worked the branch) and mineral traffic finished in 1972, the line being lifted in 1974. I was heartbroken - but I have since managed to collect many photographs since.
Part 1 =I have just intervieved my 90 year old Aunt Jennifer Mohammed who is the last survivor of her generation . She and my mother Ameena Khan was born at Tull Village Curepe close to where the Post Office is today . The Train line was at the back of their house with the EM Road in front and the St. Joseph river a few yards away . She remembers much of what is written here and said that she once flagged down the Train at the back of her home and it did indeed stop for her . Con't part 2 .
@SuperSnk1 Nice to hear all of your feedback. To answer your question, the railway opened to Sangre Grande on September 1st 1897. There was a turntable at the Sangre Grande terminus, the sump remains there to this day, now used as a fish pond. The section of railway between Arima and Sangre Grande closed to all traffic on April 1st 1953.
Wow amazing 🌷
@zizizeb Thanks for your message, much appreciated. Adrian is a friend, he is on the credits for the video at the end. I have seen some of his old Trinidad photos, truly wonderful.
Oh wow. thank you for this piece of history. My Grandfather Was the General Manager - Herbert Busby! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it just as much as I did making it.
Thanks for all the info you have about the train. I enjoyed those times riding the train. I remember we had the tram/trolley
also.
Hello Cecil, the line to San Fernando turned off the Arima line at Curepe. The exact point of the diversion is only a few feet after the bus route today runs over the Southern main road at Curepe. The Southern Main line of railway then ran along UWI's western boundary. Today there is a UWI car park at the southern end of this boundary appropriately named "TGR Car park". Hope this answers your question.
wao,soo impressed to see my land of ancestry,i am very proud of whom posted this amazing scene,i will show it to my old friends.
Thanks for the technical details about the Curepe Junction Station, which was indeed an important one. The trains to San Fernando diverted to another track in that vicinity on their journey south. I asume Mackenzie bridge is the bridge over the St. Joseph river????
@SuperSnk1 Hello and thanks for your comments. All I have to say is that your Aunt has an extraordinary memory. I have been told before that Train drivers would stop in special places for regular travelers. When the San Fernando line closed in 1965, trains continued to Arima until 1967. At finally to San Juan in December of 1968. I will finish my comments under part two.
@SuperSnk1 Tabaquite tunnel. I last visited it July of 2009. It is now possible to walk or to drive through it, preferably in a 4 x 4. The tunnel itself is called Knolly's tunnel, so named after the then acting Colonial Governor of Trinidad and Tobago, Courtney Knolly, officially opened the line through it on August 20, 1898. The tunnel is 660 feet in length. It closed on the same day as the San Fernando line, August 30th 1965.
You are correct, there was indeed a turntable at Rio Claro.
@SandoTrini Thanks for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
who's here after hearing a version of this in asteroid city?
His name was Harold Creese. He worked with the railway for many, many years. He died in 1979. I still miss him.
my good friend Richard puckering his father was a train driver from barataria
my good friend Richard puckering his father was a train driver from barataria
Dewi, one day I would like to see any photos you may have of the railmotor along the branch. You know we had a three steam rail motors in Trinidad. Two by Bayer Peacock and one by Sentinel -Cammell. The Sentinel was later used as rolling stock and remained in use as such until the early 60s.
@MegaHillview Thanks for your comments. I have heard of the bar and wonder whether any relative of the present owner worked as a crossing gatekeeper. Thanks
Hi Collie, I was only 8 years old when they took away the Government Passenger Railway but at least I lived in South Trinidad where trains continued for another 30 years in the sugar industry. It was very sad to see them go. Thanks for commenting.
You are very welcome, thanks for watching.
Nice video, I emailed the link to my father as a girlfriend sent it to me for him (every1 knows of his love for trains). I'm waiting to hear from him, I'm sure he appreciated it alot, there are not many people interested in our railways. I believe my father has the last ticket for this train (he snatched it out of the conductor's hand). He enjoys all of your videos.
So awesome ❤❤❤. I was a one year old when this happened.
The dress was so formal back then, looking back from a 2021 perspective....its interesting.
@chrisatir thanks for your comments. If you would like to hear and see more about the railways of Trinidad, I invite you to watch my three part 2009 TV interview on the subject. You can find them on my youtube channel or by searching 'Trinidad Railway History Part 1, 2 and 3. The ole days were sweet indeed.
@SuperSnk1 Once new facilities were built at Goodrich Bay and Pointe-a-Pierre, it was no longer necessary to transport goods (mainly oil and Sugar) to and from San Fernando and Port of Spain by the railway. This, along with an improved road system, was instrumental in making the railway redundant. There was always certain cargo that went by sea but it was limited because San Fernando was not a deep water port.
How sad! What a tourist attraction the Railway would have made.
good footage
I'm a Trini now living in Brisbane Australia. I remember getting the train to school from Champs Fleus (spelling) to St Joseph on occasions and living the ' rattlers'...lol
Tom martin hi am from Trinidad how was it in those times
Wow 😮 I didn’t know it had all this it’s amazing
@TigerTnT1 Yes, I believe that Mackenzie bridge is the bridge over the St. Joseph river. This bridge is a few yards east of where San Juan station was. There is another bridge beyond St Joseph and this can be seen briefly in the film. This bridge was double track but again, two single lines as it was east of St Joseph. Soon after the bridge, the San Fernando line diverged south alonf the UWI western border towards the southland. Form this point it became known as "the Southern Main Line".
Hello and thank you for your comments. I am very interested in that train you recall passing through Pointe-a-Pierre with flags and people hanging on outside. Can you recall what time of day this train passed by. I would say that May 1947 was the date when a committee was set up to explore the replacement of the railway by the development of road and water transport. This was initiated by Sir Bede Clifford, governor of the day, in the wake of both railway accidents at Savonetta (1942 &45).
superb great stuff.....!!!
I wish I was around back then so I could ride the train......it looks like a fun ride with friends
@keithrai Yes I remember the sailboats at Kings Wharf, San Fernando. I also remember a manual crane on the Wharf. I don’t know much about what cargo was carried and or what destination. My father was a keen sailor and we frequently sailed in the Gulf of Paris. I do remember sailing past schooners heading to San Fernando. I can’t say for certain where those schooners came in from, perhaps from up the islands, Granada and the like.
I wish they still had the trains
Part4= On 2 occasions I visited the Tunnel in Tabaquite and found the area well kept . You can drive right up to it . My coworker told me of some one who drove a 4x4 Jeep from there along the path of the tracks through the bushes and exited I believe in Flannigin Town . If that is now possible then I would surely like to attempt this . At Rio Claro which was the end of the line there was a Manual Turn Table that was used to change the direction of the Engine for the return trip .
great stuff...
@penedawn Hello & thanks for commenting. The railway had been in decline for a number of years. By 1956 passenger traffic was down but goods had suffered a serious decline as alternative deep water facilities became available in the south of the island. All of this loss of traffic cost the Government about 18 million dollars in 11 years and spelt the beginning of the end for the railway. The 1956 Jessop report proposed the gradual closing down and abandonment of the Trinidad Government Railway.
amazing,great memories
@popetoussaint Thanks for your comments, unfortunately the true origin of the song was lost in time. I hope that it will now be more widely known because of the video. Same applies to the locomotive.
@galbeadon . Could you please explain what you meant by "Goods suffered a serious decline as alternative deep water facilities became available in the south of the island "? Were goods transported from POS to South by Barges or big boats ay that time ? Thanks .
Your Trinidadian friend was entirely correct. The 1963 Beeching report, published on 27 March 1963 in the UK, came out a matter of months before it's Trinidad equivalent, the Madory Railway Report (Published 11 November 1963). Both reports recommended drastic reductions in rail services and in the case of Trinidad, a strategy of phased abandonment. I would like to hear the steelband recordings and will look out for this CD. Thank you for commenting.
Part 2= My Aunt also said that there was an Area close by called "BackaDay" which was a collection point for Sugar Cane which was then removed by trucks to the Orange Grove Sugar Factory . There was a paved area along the St. Joseph river where people used to wash their clothes and of course bathe . My Mom moved to San Fernando when she got married so it was easy for our family there to come down south on the Train . She said "Queen Mabel " who was very popular as the EMR Bus conductor .
I still feel this was a big mistake we make as a nation closing the railway
oh...and thanks for posting this Glen.
@galbeadon . Thanks . This is real interesting . Is there a map of the Rail System in Trinidad indicating the Stations and stops ? I know that Jerninham Junction in Carprichima was the station where the lines diverted to San Fernando or Rio Claro . The south line I am familiar with but would like to know about the Rio Line . There is Tram line street in Princess Town . I would also like to know about this line . I know that the Station in Pointe a Pierre was cleaned up some years ago .
carapichaima is in between couva and chaguanas, went to muslim school next to carapichaima station since 56 then to presentation college chaguanas until line closed. Chaguanas was the kime of limes we used to say. Lots of good times. Came to Canada worked for CN rail during university for 4 summers; Symington wpg as train clerk then as waiter on passenger rail.Had to satisfy my thirst.My career took me all over the world and got my filltrain travelling but the Longing for a Trini Rail has not gone away.
@SuperSnk1 That area which your Aunt refers to as "BackaDay" was actually local slang for a French word, Embarcadere. This means “shipping place”. I have before heard of a few places referred to by this name on the railway system but the original Embarcadere was a point at the mouth of the Cipero river in San Fernando where the Cipero Tramway would offload their finished hogsheads (or large cask) of sugar and rum from rail to lighters which would take the cargo out to deep-sea vessels.
My great grandpa......*The feels*
(Herbert Busby)
respect!
Thanks for watching. If you would like to hear about the Rio Claro line, take a look at my interview with David Moore on RUclips. David recalls his excursions as a boy along the Caparo Valley Line. Look up "The Railway Artwork of David Moore Part 5".
The last train to San Fernando was 47 years ago today :(((