The “Blues and Gospel Train” was staged on May 7, 1964 by Granada TV. 200 fans were instructed to meet at Manchester’s Central Station at 7:30 that evening for a short train ride to the abandoned Wilbraham Road Station in Whalley Range, where a huge platform sign displaying the word ‘Chorltonville’. They had seats on the platform. The opposite platform was decorated with bales of cotton, sacks, crates, broken-down farm equipment, washtubs, wanted posters and even some farm animals.
This was an offshoot of The Blues and Gospel Tour, organized by Granada TV producer Johnnie Hamp and 25-year-old TV director Phil Casson . It is regarded as massively significant in the culture and history of the blues. It was broadcast on 19th August 1964. Hamp had produced a concert on Sunday 21st October 1962 at the Free Trade Hall which was attended by Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman & Brian Jones and featured John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon and T-Bone Walker.
Cousin Joe: “Chicken a la Blues”
Cousin Joe: “Railroad Porter Blues”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “Didn’t It Rain”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “Trouble in Mind”
Muddy Waters: “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had”
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: “Talking Harmonica Blues”
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: “Rambler’s Blues” medley
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: “Walk On”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”
There was a re-enactment by at Chorlton tram stop 7th May 2014 and coverage by the BBC of the 50th anniversary.
CP Lee, and audience member Brian Smith recalled the event in 2017.
Friends of the Fallowfield Loop 