Quirky Hymns

I've been at the Cyber Hymnal, looking for tomorrow's hymn. You can't spend much time there without running into a hymn or two that are just a tad strange. Or maybe they're just dated and they seemed perfectly fine when they were written.

How about this one?

Life's Railway to Heaven

Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that’s brave;
We must make the run successful, from the cradle to the grave;
Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels; never falter, never quail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Refrain
Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

You will roll up grades of trial; you will cross the bridge of strife;
See that Christ is your Conductor on this lightning train of life;
Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

You will often find obstructions; look for storms of wind and rain;
On a fill, or curve, or trestle, they will almost ditch your train;
Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

As you roll across the trestle, spanning Jordan’s swelling tide,
You behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide;
There you’ll meet the Superintendent, God the Father, God the Son,
With the hearty, joyous, plaudit, “Weary pilgrim, welcome home!”

Listen.

Union Depot? God the Father as Superintendent? I'm betting you don't sing that one Sunday morning at your church.

Update: Ian McKenzie posts lyrics to another railroad gospel song in the comments.

My dad used to sing one, with the lyrics,

Better get your ticket for the heaven train,
Heaven train, Heaven train,
Better get your ticket for the heaven train
And get ready to meet the Lord.

Will it come in the morning?
Only the good Lord knows.
Will it come in the evening?
Only the good Lord knows.

It then listed many different scenerios where the train might come, but "Only the good Lord knows," before repeating the refrain.

I suppose that next someone's going to tell me there are airline gospel songs!