The railroad played an important role in the lives of the Southern Appalachians. A good part of the Appalachian Mountains remain remote, rural communities nestled in the hills far from highways and shopping malls. Before LBJ's "War on Poverty" in the 1960s brought highways and paved roads to the remote towns of the mountains the railroad was a link to the world.
The railroads brought factory-made goods from the city and hauled out the coal. They brought jobs and they took the young folks to better jobs in the city. The railroad had a major impact on many people of the Appalachians. It also had an impact on their music.
The New Lost City Ramblers - Train 45.mp3 The Virginia Mountain Boys - Lost Train Blues.mp3