[Alternately: “The Railroad Overture or Locumloshus Jimjam”]
To listen to this song (and others) on the Artists Respond to Juba Site, Click Here and/or Here.
This instrumental was meant to imitate the sounds of a locomotive. As the prefatory note for the Leoni Lee and Coxhead edition states: “The Rail-Road Overture or Locumloshus Jimjam; which at de fust ob de begginnin commence wery moderate; but when it gits into de circumlution ob de centre ob grabity, it goes into a kind ob canstopimization an run clear off de track!” Mahar suggests a thematic similarity between this song and the “Locomotive Lecture” which came to be a standard component of the minstrel show in the mid-nineteenth century. The Lecture was a recitation of an invented narrative accompanied by sound effects produced by bone castanets (17-18). Unlike the “Locomotive Lecture,” however, “The Railroad Overture” relied exclusively upon the instrumental ensemble placing particular emphasis upon the bones and/or tambourine player(s).
While the piece appears to have been quite popular during the period in question – often functioning as either the opening or closing number – its popularity most certainly did not endure into the twentieth century. With neither evidence to support any transmissions of the song, nor any recorded versions of the song (excepting the version recorded for The Mid-Atlantic Minstrel Show), it seems likely that the novelty of the song worked against its continued popularity. It is recommended to the reader that s/he listen to the recorded version provided here. Structurally, it is consistent with other songs in this canon with respect to the presentation and development of melodic material. Accordingly, it seems likely that the song’s attraction was as a vehicle (so to speak) for the troupe’s efforts to imitate the sounds of a locomotive, rather than with the music. Minstrel performers were, in the performance of some numbers, frenetic in their movements and physically all-encompassing in their noise-making – using feet, hands, body as percussive instruments as much as their violins and banjos in a show that appeared to be out of control.
Works Cited:
Mark Turner
Performer(s) | Troupe | Event and Venue |
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Minstrel Show, 19 Jan. 1846 - 23 Jan. 1846 Hanover Square Rooms, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 09 Feb. 1846 - 14 Feb. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 16 Feb. 1846 - 21 Feb. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 23 Feb. 1846 - 28 Feb. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 24 Feb. 1846 - 24 Feb. 1846 Gloucester House, Piccadilly, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 02 Mar. 1846 - 07 Mar. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 09 Mar. 1846 - 14 Mar. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 16 Mar. 1846 - 21 Mar. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 23 Mar. 1846 - 28 Mar. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 30 Mar. 1846 - 04 Apr. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 22 Apr. 1846 - 22 Apr. 1846 Crosby Hall, London (city-county) |
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Variety, 27 Apr. 1846 - 27 Apr. 1846 Drury Lane Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 01 May. 1846 - 01 May. 1846 Crosby Hall, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 04 May. 1846 - 09 May. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 11 May. 1846 - 16 May. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 11 May. 1846 - 11 May. 1846 Crosby Hall, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 18 May. 1846 - 22 May. 1846 Sadler's Wells, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 25 May. 1846 - 30 May. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 25 May. 1846 - 25 May. 1846 Sussex Hall, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 29 May. 1846 - 29 May. 1846 Hall, The, Berkshire |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 30 May. 1846 - 30 May. 1846 Chiswick House, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 01 Jun. 1846 - 01 Jun. 1846 Royal British Institution, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 09 Jun. 1846 - 13 Jun. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 10 Jun. 1846 - 10 Jun. 1846 Horns, The, Kennington, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 12 Jun. 1846 - 12 Jun. 1846 Green Man, Blackheath, London (city-county) |
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Original Creole Vocalists |
Variety, 22 Jun. 1846 - 26 Jun. 1846 Vauxhall Gardens, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Delineators (Pelham's, 1846) |
Minstrel Show, 26 Jun. 1846 - 27 Jun. 1846 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Minstrel Show, 29 Jun. 1846 - 04 Jul. 1846 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 29 Jun. 1846 - 04 Jul. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Original Creole Vocalists |
Variety, 30 Jun. 1846 - 03 Jul. 1846 Vauxhall Gardens, London (city-county) |
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Original Creole Vocalists |
Variety, 06 Jul. 1846 - 10 Jul. 1846 Vauxhall Gardens, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 06 Jul. 1846 - 11 Jul. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 13 Jul. 1846 - 18 Jul. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Original Creole Vocalists |
Variety, 14 Jul. 1846 - 17 Jul. 1846 Vauxhall Gardens, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 20 Jul. 1846 - 25 Jul. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 27 Jul. 1846 - 01 Aug. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Harmonists (1846-47) |
Variety, 03 Aug. 1846 - 07 Aug. 1846 Vauxhall Gardens, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 03 Aug. 1846 - 08 Aug. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Harmonists (1846-47) |
Variety, 11 Aug. 1846 - 14 Aug. 1846 Vauxhall Gardens, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Dramatic, 08 Sep. 1846 - 09 Sep. 1846 Theatre Royal, Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (Van Dwyer, 1846) |
Minstrel Show, 07 Nov. 1846 - 07 Nov. 1846 Music Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne (city-county) in Northumberlan |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 21 Dec. 1846 - 26 Dec. 1846 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 28 Dec. 1846 - 02 Jan. 1847 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1846-48) |
Minstrel Show, 04 Jan. 1847 - 09 Jan. 1847 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Harmonists (1846-47) |
Minstrel Show, 06 Mar. 1847 - 08 Mar. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Ethiopian Harmonists (1846-47) |
Minstrel Show, 30 Mar. 1847 - 01 Apr. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Female American Serenaders |
Dramatic, 05 Apr. 1847 - 05 Apr. 1847 Queen's Theatre, Lancashire |
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Female American Serenaders |
Dramatic, 06 Apr. 1847 - 06 Apr. 1847 Queen's Theatre, Lancashire |
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Female American Serenaders |
Dramatic, 07 Apr. 1847 - 10 Apr. 1847 Queen's Theatre, Lancashire |
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Female American Serenaders |
Minstrel Show, 12 Apr. 1847 - 13 Apr. 1847 Queen's Theatre, Lancashire |
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Female American Serenaders |
Dramatic, 14 Apr. 1847 - 15 Apr. 1847 Queen's Theatre, Lancashire |
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Female American Serenaders |
Dramatic, 17 Apr. 1847 - 17 Apr. 1847 Queen's Theatre, Lancashire |
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Female American Serenaders |
Dramatic, 19 Apr. 1847 - 19 Apr. 1847 Queen's Theatre, Lancashire |
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Female American Serenaders |
Minstrel Show, 21 Apr. 1847 - 24 Apr. 1847 St. James Assembly Rooms, London (city-county) |
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Minstrel Show, 03 May. 1847 - 08 May. 1847 Strand Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Harmonists (1846-47) |
Minstrel Show, 15 May. 1847 - 15 May. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Ethiopian Harmonists (1846-47) |
Minstrel Show, 17 May. 1847 - 22 May. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Beyadere and Female Serenaders |
Minstrel Show, 26 Jun. 1847 - 26 Jun. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Ethiopian Delineators (not Pelham's, 1847) |
Minstrel Show, 10 Jul. 1847 - 10 Jul. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Philadelphia and Mississippi Ethiopian Serenaders |
Minstrel Show, 12 Jul. 1847 - 13 Jul. 1847 Theatre Royal, Bristol, Bristol (city-county) in Gloucestershire |
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Minstrel Show, 19 Jul. 1847 - 20 Jul. 1847 Mechanics' Institute, Nottinghamshire |
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Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders |
Minstrel Show, 21 Sep. 1847 - 24 Sep. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Ethiopian Melodists and New York Serenaders |
Minstrel Show, 27 Sep. 1847 - 01 Oct. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Ethiopian Harmonists (1847-?) |
Minstrel Show, 01 Nov. 1847 - 05 Nov. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Ethiopian Harmonists (1847-?) |
Minstrel Show, 13 Nov. 1847 - 13 Nov. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Ethiopian Harmonists (1847-?) |
Minstrel Show, 15 Nov. 1847 - 19 Nov. 1847 Concert Hall, Lancashire |
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Dumbolton's Serenaders (1848-49) |
Minstrel Show, 06 Dec. 1848 - 09 Dec. 1848 St. James Theatre, London (city-county) |
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Ethiopian Serenaders (1850) |
Minstrel Show, 18 Mar. 1850 - 23 Mar. 1850 , Devon |
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Royal Marionette Theatre (inc. Ebony Marionettes) |
Dramatic, 22 Oct. 1852 - 23 Oct. 1852 Theatre Royal, Williamson Square, Lancashire |
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Royal Marionette Theatre (inc. Ebony Marionettes) |
Dramatic, 24 Oct. 1852 - 29 Oct. 1852 Theatre Royal, Williamson Square, Lancashire |