The Kinks: Last of the Steam-Powered Trains

Track of the Week - 16 October 2022

Last weekend the residents of Tea at Johnny's Towers relocated to York for a short break. It was a very enjoyable trip away.

One of the attractions we visited while we were up there was the National Rail Museum. As it's free I wouldn't put you off going. Especially if you like trains. (If you want a railway museum in the south to visit then Swindon's STEAM provides more context to the development of the technology and the people who worked there.)

One of the exhibits in York was Evening Star. This was the last steam locomotive built for British Rail (in Swindon Works in 1960.) 

Eight years later The Kinks released the magnificent The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society album. Last of the Steam-Powered Trains is about a steam train that has outlived its usefulness and has since moved to a museum so it neatly ticks the appropriateness box for this week.

It owes quite a lot to Howlin' Wolf's Smokestack Lightning but in a way, don't we all?