North East Songwriter Pays Tribute to Railway Pioneer

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(Free-Press-Release.com) October 11, 2009 -- A song about one of Tyneside’s favourite son’s, has been written and composed by a North East singer – songwriter to celebrate the 150th anniversary this week of the death of Robert Stephenson.

The song, “The Famous Rainhill Trials” written by John Leslie of Nedderton, near Morpeth, tells the story of Stephenson’s Rocket through the eyes of a young man who was employed to transport the locomotive from Newcastle to Liverpool in 1829.

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North East Songwriter Pays Tribute to Railway Pioneer

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John, who plays guitar and sings with three piece local band The Sawdust Jacks, recently premiered the song at Heritage @St Mary’s in Gateshead as part of an evening of local history events held during the Heritage Open Day weekend. He hopes that the song will make people think about the talent and engineering skills of the Stephenson’s and the way that they have changed the way that we live today.

“Prior to the Rainhill Trails which was won by The Rocket, man could really only travel as fast as his horse could take him, “said John. “The railways revolutionised industry and social travelling and we have a lot to thank the Stephenson’s for.”

The Sawdust Jacks are named after a local Victorian Tyneside character like Coffee Johnny, Cushy Butterfield and Tommy on the Bridge. Sawdust Jack scraped a living by hawking sawdust to pubs and butchers and was an athlete and boxer, fighting for the 'World Championship' against Daft Martin at Ginnets Circus when it came to town.

John who together with fellow band member John Mitchell works for the Gateshead and Newcastle Warm Zones appreciates the work of Stephenson more than most as their office looks directly onto the High Level Bridge which Robert Stephenson designed in 1849. The remaining member of the band is John’s son, John Leslie Junior.

Ends - Lyrics below

The Famous Rainhill Trials by the Sawdust Jacks


As we left home for Liverpool, two weeks ago today
A cloud sat on my shoulder, as I watched you fade away

Thank God for our safe passage, here on Rainhill Bridge we wait
Our precious cargo gleaming, a fire burns in the grate.

£500 is up for grabs, and contracts to be signed
Worth a lot of money, here in 1829
So engineers from miles around, have gathered here today
To stake their claim to greatness; take the purse away.

Novelty and Sans Pariel, could only wait and hope
That Stephenson’s great wonder would soon go up in smoke
But 13 tons of cargo, was pulled 70 miles that day
October 1829, we blew them all away.

Hats were thrown towards the sky, and I saw grown men cry

Rocket gobbled up the miles, at the famous rainhill trials
My heart was pounding through my chest; I was ten feet tall as I watched the best
And now the whole of Tyneside smiles, about the famous Rainhill trials.

Now my love I’m homeward bound, I’ll soon be at your door
I hope my letters found you well, I love you even more
I’m coming home a better man, in oh so many ways
And I can’t wait to tell the world the story of the day

When hats were thrown towards the sky, and I saw grown men cry
Rocket gobbled up the miles, at the famous rainhill trials

My heart was pounding through my chest; I was ten feet tall as I watched the best
And now the whole of Tyneside smiles, about the famous Rainhill trials.

Photo shows The Sawdust Jacks
Media Info

Keith Newman Highlights PR 07814 397951

More information can be found online at http://www.myspace.com/sawdustjacks

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