Standing on the sidetrack at the south end of town

on a hot dry dusty august day the steam pipe pouring down

the fireman with his long oil can oiling the old valve gears

waiting for the semaphore the fast mail train to clear



The engineer in the old high cab his gold watch in his hand

looking at the waterglass and letting down the sand

rolling out on the old main line taking up the slack

gone today so they say but tomorrow he'll be back



oh if I could return

to those boyhood days of mine

and the greenlight on the southern southern railroad line



creeping down the rusty rails of the weed grown branch line

the section houses gray and white by the yard limit sign

the hoggers call the old high ball no more time to wait

rolling down to birmingham with a 10 car load for freight



the whistle scream with a hiss of steam the headlight gleams clear

the drivers roll on the green and go getting mighty near

handing up the orders to the engine crew on time

it's the Alabama great southern AGS railroad line