All aboard
Performance brings the stories of P.E.I.’s trains back to life
Trains haven’t been in use on Prince Edward Island since 1989, but a few years ago, some residents in Wellington claim they heard what they believed to be a train roaring through the woods of Miscouche. Some even said they heard a shrill whistle and the ringing of bells as it sped along through the night. Using stories and songs like this one, “Locomotion” tells tales both historical and entertaining of the time the Island had active trains.
Trains haven’t been in use on Prince Edward Island since 1989, but a few years ago, some residents in Wellington claim they heard what they believed to be a train roaring through the woods of Miscouche. Some even said they heard a shrill whistle and the ringing of bells as it sped along through the night.
Using stories and songs like this one, “Locomotion” tells tales both historical and entertaining of the time the Island had active trains. The show will come to Summerside Aug. 31 at the Summerside Presbyterian Church.
This year being Canada’s 150th birthday, Niall MacKay and the rest of Locomotion thought it would be nice to put together a show that focused on the railway, which played a large part in the confederation of Canada.
“Niall had compiled a list of train songs and then started looking at the history of the P.E.I. railway and decided, “Hey this would make a great show to take on the road,” said Kendall Docherty, one of the people behind the performance. Locomotion members Heartz Godkin, Brian Knox, Niall Mackay, Peter Burke, Jimi
Platts, and Kendall Docherty all try to bring the stories, like the phantom train, to life with their music and excitement.
“No matter where you go on the Island, the railway meant something to every little community,” said Docherty.
It meant more to rural communities than major centres as the trains are what really opened the island up to the small communities, he said. The group has played together for many years, doing various tribute shows.
This series of shows is different.
“It’s an Island railway journey through story and song,” said Docherty.
The Phantom Train is just one of many stories that Locomotive has in store.
MacKay, 75, lived to see the trains come and go and did the bulk of the research for the stories.
While they’ve been playing together for years, all of the men individually have strong musical backgrounds. MacKay, 79, hasn’t slowed down much due to his age, or a recent stroke.
“He still plays three or four times a week,” said Docherty. Docherty has been singing since he was 13, and now the 40-year-old is a storyteller as well, often filling MacKay’s place as narrator due to the effects of the stroke.
While the stories may be educational for the audience, the group has also learned a lot in the production. Audience members who remember the trains often tell them stories of their own, teaching them more about the topic they’re bringing around the Island.
Shows have been performed in Hunter River, Elmira, and Rustico. Unlike many trains, the tour doesn’t have a strict list of dates.
“We pick up shows as we go,” said Docherty
They hope to continue the show well into the fall. Tickets for the Summerside event are $10, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.