Trainspotting re-visited: picture books about two legends of the American rail

In Angela Johnson’s I dream of trains, a young black boy working in the Mississippi cotton fields is inspired by stories of the legendary Casey Jones, whose regular run had once followed the border of these same fields.

Until his heroic death in 1900, Irish-American Casey worked alongside a black fireman at a time when the lingering ghost of slavery made such partnerships almost unheard of. The sound of his train whistle became a symbol of hope to the toiling cotton pickers and, a generation later, its memory kindles enough courage in the young narrator for him to venture into the wider world with its possibilities of a better life.

‘…the feel of the whistle speaking to me…
it’s.. the sound of leaving that speaks to my soul’

Loren Long’s paintings perfectly complement Johnson’s rail-rhythm prose. An accompanying CD of the traditional ballad about Casey Jones would have been nice, perhaps incorporating the sound of that long, lonesome train whistle, but this is such a beautifully evocative book that maybe it lets the imagination take care of all that.
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

The train they call the City of New Orleans, a picture book version of the 1970 Steve Goodman song made famous by singer Arlo Guthrie, has an accompanying CD with both narration and song (best to cut straight to the latter!) presented this
time round by Tom Chapin.

Michael McCurdy’s lino-cut illustrations bring to life the story of the train that still runs from Chicago to New Orleans—coincidentally a very similar route to that of Casey Jones almost a hundred years earlier (both trains were part of the Illinois Central network).

Two years ago the song became the symbol of relief concerts held to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and gained a new life beyond its earlier baby boomer following.
Published by G.P.Putnam's Sons


Both books have a practical as well as a romantic side. I dream of trains emphasises that true freedom has to come from within; City of New Orleans ends with a sad comment on disappearing railway networks.

And both could inspire young boys to dream.

Reviewed by Cecily Fisher