Album Notes

"Ghosts Along the Line" celebrates America's rich railroad heritage. Walt Johnson's title cut pays tribute to the SP 745, a wonderful big old steam locomotive that was retired to Audubon Park in New Orleans, LA in the early 1950's. Now restored and on the National Historic Register, SP 745 returned to the mainline for the first time in 48 years on December 15, 2004 with Backroom Bluegrass Band's Bill Johnson as engineer. The engine is the only surviving Louisiana-built steam locomotive and is in the tender care of the Louisiana Steam Train Association (www.lasta.org).

"Southern Pacific" is a song that was commissioned for a meeting of Southern Pacific Railroad officials and was shared with the band by our good friend Ray Duplechain. Ray is a retired superintendent of both the Southern Pacific and New Orleans Public Belt Railroads.

"End of My Railroad Days" and "Dream of the Steam Engine Days" were written by R.M. "Pinky" Phillips who worked as a conductor on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad mainline between Cincinnati, OH and St. Louis, MO. Pinky was quite an entertainer and at one time appeared onstage with Gene Autry. Pinky worked many a train with Bill Johnson running the steam engine up front.

We dedicate "Chattanooga Choo Choo" to our good friend Cathy King who has been a big supporter of the band since day one and whose inspiration got us through the recording of this song. "Life Is Like a Mountain Railroad" is dedicated to all of our friends at the Big South Fork Scenic Railway in Stearns, KY (www.bsfsry.com) where Bill also serves as an engineer. "City of New Orleans" is a tribute to the city that gave birth to SP 745 and where she resides today. Thanks also go to Danny Rawinsky for recording the whistles on SP 745 during her December runs and allowing them to be used on this CD.

The cover picture of SP 745 was taken at sunset, just hours after she completed her return to the mainline. The silhouetted figures beside the railway were LASTA workers, or were they "Ghosts Along the Line?"

The lead vocals and guitar for this album are performed by Walt Johnson. Dobro, harmonica and tenor background vocals are the work of Dan Pence. Bill Johnson provides bass background vocals and also plays banjo, guitar and steam whistles. Jane Johnson provides our foundation on the string bass, while Pat Soister deftly adds the high sonorities and rhythms of the mandolin. Last, but not least, is bluegrass legend and luthier Homer Ledford adding heart to the music with his handcrafted mountain fiddle. Our music has been a soulful journey and we hope "Ghosts Along the Line" touches your spirit as well!