"The Wabash Cannon Ball" was a fictional fast express train line on the Wabash, St. Louis, & Pacific Railroad.

The train traveled throughout the middle and western United States in the late 1800's and into the early 1900's.

The American folk song "Wabash Cannonball" was written by J. A. Roff in 1882. The song describes the scenic beauty and predicaments of the train as it traveled on the Great Rock Island train route.

“Listen to the jingle, the rumble, and the roar,
Riding through the woodlands, through the hills, and by the shore,
See the mighty rush of engines, hear that lonesome hobo squall,
Riding through the jungle on the "The Wabash Cannonball."

Over the years, this popular song's music has remained unchanged, while the verses have been updated by song artists.

The Carter Family made one of the first recordings of the song in 1929.

Another popular version was recorded by Roy Acuff in 1936. The Acuff version has sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide.

“The only music we ever listened to out in the piney woods was Roy Acuff and the Grand Ole Opry. That was the only night of the week I was allowed to lay in the middle of the bed with Mama and Daddy, just long enough to hear Roy Acuff sing; then I had to go back to bed.” - George Jones