Train Station - Kankakee, IL - Immortalized in Lyrics on Waymarking.com

“All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kankakee
And rolls along past houses, farms and fields…”
- Steve Goodman from the song “The City of New Orleans”

As anyone who’s familiar with this song knows, “The City of New Orleans” is not about the city of New Orleans. Rather, it’s about a train that ran from Chicago to New Orleans back in the 1950s and 60s operated by the Illinois Central railroad. The train still runs today but under the auspices of Amtrak which took over long distance passenger rail travel in 1971.

Singer-songwriter Steve Goodman, a native of Chicago, wrote the song after making the train trip to New Orleans with his wife in 1970. The lyrics reflect his observations and impressions during the 16+ hour ride. Many folks, including Johnny Cash, consider it the best train song ever written. Unfortunately, Steve Goodman’s life was cut tragically short when he died of leukemia at the age of 36.

“The City of New Orleans” has been covered by numerous performing artists, most notably, Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson whose version reached No. 1 on the country charts. And it’s always been one of my personal favorites. I particularly like the way the lyrical progression from “Good morning, America...” to “Good night, America…” portends the eventual demise of the railroad line’s passenger service: Less than a year after the song was written, the IC decommissioned the “City of New Orleans” due to lack of passengers.

The Kankakee train station now houses the Kankakee Railroad Museum.

Musician: Steve Goodman Name of Song: The City of New Orleans Relevant Verse: All along the southbound odyssey. The train pulls out at Kankakee. And rolls along past houses, farms and fields… Location website: [Web Link]

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