ROCK ‘ER UP, BOYS…

$25. Email [email protected] for order inquires. See origin story below!

We came across this excellent book by Brendan D. Dicks at the Newfoundland Emporium in Corner Brook a little while ago. It’s filled with harrowing tales of crews maneuvering steam trains on narrow-gauge tracks through the treacherous terrain that is Newfoundland and Labrador.

There is lots to learn about in this book but the overarching theme is one of camaraderie and trust among the workers. This is the inspiration of the song Night Train Whistle.

We were delighted to come away with one phrase in particular, highlighted below. The passage reads:

The waves of the ocean splashed so high that its salt water sprayed over the tracks. This caused great difficulty for trains trying to get over the hill top. The rails became so slippery that it caused the locomotive to lose its traction and slip. So, the fireman and conductor, or brakeman, would walk up the grade immediately ahead of the locomotive, reach his hand in near the front off the moving wheels and “Rock-er-up.” That is, they would put tiny stones, instead of sand, on the rails immediately ahead of the engine’s driving wheels. This provided the traction necessary to get the locomotive and train up and over Bear Cove’s one mile grade.

We couldn’t resist putting this phrase on a shirt. If you’d like one, please send us an email at [email protected]!