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.