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Music and Trains Dan Wheelers journey began on the back of a traveling red caboose and lead him to become a National Concert Artist for the Wurlitzer Company, sharing his love for trains throughout the United States. I dedicate the following pages to my dad, to which I never would have traveled the journey of life without his support and presence. I miss you so much.
      
My train pages were last updated on Nov. 16th 2008.
 I would like to thank the many people and organizations that have given me permission to use their materials and to the countless people that have come years before and such materials have become Public domain. Banners/navigation/backgrounds created by Dan Wheeler using PhotoImpact 10/GIF 5 Animator/ Pictures taken using Fuji 700 digital camera. Trademarks and logos are owned by their respective honors. Pictures from Library of Congress/National Park Service/ Historical society's of PA,Ohio,Wv. Materials other than Dan Wheeler used with permission/or fees paid. References listed at bottom of this page.
There are several people that jump started my career to wish I am blessed. I give thanks to God for his presence in my life through the anchor of My Dad and my mom who were there to support me, love me, and guide me through the foundation of the Bible. Who gave the extra push with the gentleness of God's love, To the doors that God opened for me to gain knowledge in my journey, to make new friends throughout the United States and the world, and to allow me to share my love for music and trains with all those who come here to visit. I pray you blessings. My dad has now gone home in 2007 to be with our Lord and I offer the train pages here in his honor, and memory.
A word about Navigation  Follow the red icon to read more information Outside links are marked as needed most pages are within this site. When you see the Train ticket like the one below this is your passage back to this main page just click. Throughout the other pages of my ministry site including the history pages you can click on any of the two train buttons to bring you back here. The history porthole is also a link to hundreds of pages of history about Wheeling, National Road, The Suspension bridge, historical sites around Wheeling and so much more.
 
Down the National Road through Wheeling into Ohio and PA. From the hills of a county fair in Ohio, West Virginia, and P.A. would ring the train whistle of the Wabash Cannonball, or the Orange Bloosm Special as Young 15 year old Dan Wheeler would draw the crowds from the back stage of the "Fun Railroad" The Red Caboose.
 Train Songs performed by Dan Wheeler.... Trains and Music, Wurlitzer and Trains. To better understand about "Painting Musical Pictures" one must understand about the subject the artist is painting. From county fair's to parks my father with his old red pick up truck like a true engineer tugged a red caboose with a organ inside that would be placed on a stage that dropped as I performed for thousands of people in a three state area. Trains played a important part of my journey. The C.H. & O railroad, "The fun railroad" is what we called the show. Left is a picture of me and my Father. I thank God for a dad that supported my music, it was his vision and support of both my dad and mom that gave me the drive to see my dreams. I began my journey working for a local music store at the age of 12 and continued here for nearly half of my lifetime. The man that founded the company also touched my career even though I never met him. Please read about this legacy. Mr. C.A. House. click here.
 
Large picture of the CH&O stage caboose above [click here] The B&0 C-2019 Caboose lives on at the Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum in Elm Grove, a part of Wheeling, near National Road.
What to know more? History of the Caboose Dan's love for trains/ and history especially the Civil War Era is no secret. You will find some train stuff here including Civil War because the Company that I worked for also supplied the bugles during the Civil War in the US. Some information about train whistle codes, the conductor, mapping and history of the railroad, the train station and more. To better understand a ' Musical picture" I thought it would is also important for one to understand what the artist is painting on his musical canvas.
 As I grew up I loved the trains that my dad had. I loved his stories, and the picture of him saying good-by to my mom at the old B & O station as he went off to War.The Station is listed as historic place on the National Historic Register. Did you know? The First steam-operated railway in the U.S. to be chartered as a common carrier of freight and passengers (1827). The B&O was established by Baltimore merchants to foster trade with the West. By 1852 the railroad extended to Wheeling, Va. (now W.V.), and in the next two decades it reached Chicago, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo. The B&O's long-distance passenger trains were discontinued in 1971 after Amtrak was established. Many of B&O's operations were assumed by the CSX Corp. in 1980. As a young boy growing up I loved to listen to the George Wright and others play on the Mighty Wurlitzer with all the bells and whistles, from the chugging down the track to the train steam whistle played an important part to My repertoire. So I worked hard on many arrangements dealing with painting a musical picture of yesteryear, the day of the train, on the Mighty Wurlitzer.
What to know more? History of the Train Station Wv has the Second oldest train station still standing in the United States
Did you know? cannon ball n.[From the free online dictionary]
- A round projectile fired from a cannon.
- A jump into water made with the arms grasping the upraised knees.
- Something, such as a fast train, moving with great speed.
So, where did the Cannonball designation come from? Very little seems to be know about that. While the name isn't found in any of the reports or articles from 1900, a newspaper report from 1903 is headlined, "I.C. Cannon Ball Wrecked Near City." The article describes the wreck of #1 near the Florence Pump works in south Memphis. Apparently the public referred to any fast train as a "cannonball" and it is believed that is where the name came from.
Trains called Cannonball [Red opens outside link below]
- The Cannonball an Illinois Central passenger train routing between Chicago and New Orleans, now designated in modern times as the City of New Orleans
- The Cannonball, a train operated by the Long Island Rail Road
- Locomotive Number 3: As I was growing up I liked to watch two t.v. series which featured a 'cannonball'. The Hooterville Cannonball from Petticoat Junction and the Wild Wild West. A quote from the site " The Cannonball's usual speed belies its name (which was perhaps inspired by Casey Jones' locomotive), though it still manages to give its passengers a thrill while rounding the local version of Dead Man's Curve. Ostensibly, the Cannonball operates as part of the C. & F.W. Railroad. Exactly what the initials stand for is today a mystery Visit the site
- [Click here opens outside link]
 
Thus bringing to the concert stage in years to come Dan would incorporate the sounds of the Mighty Wurlitzer. Train songs, from The Wabash to Chattanooga choo choo were featured in concerts and recordings that Dan did. In concert The Wurlitzer Company would send out train tickets to the City where I was going to perform that said "Wurlitzer presents Dan Wheeler's Wabash Cannonball". Dan dressed up in a black conductors uniform complete with the train pocket watch and hat.
Many artist's playing the Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe organs have performed this song along with train songs throughout the years. Perhaps Dan was not as noticed as many artists but one thing is certain he was known for his arrangements and "Painting Musical Pictures" on the Keyboards of the Wurltzer organs electronic or pipe that he performed on. In the 80's he was performing nearly 200 concerts a year for Wurlitzer coast to coast. The theatre organ of yesterday is still with us today throughout the world. If you would like a taste of sounds that we the performers had the 'hands' on experience there is a exciting web site I invite you to visit to make your computer come alive with the sounds of the theatre organ. www.VirtualOrgan.com [opens outside link] If you would like to know more about MIDI visit our Midi Room. I remember after one concert a gentleman came up to me and said " I loved your concert, the chugging of the train, the bells, the whistle, but you played it very wrong" I explained, I'm so sorry, what did I do I asked? You should have played the whistle two long at the beginning instead of three, he said I was a engineer for the B& O for 40 years! From that time on I made the corrections to all my railroad songs! So visit the Train Code page and find out for yourself what the toots mean. Steam whistles were used along the Ohio River by steamboats before the introduction of the trains. Working from a early age on a red caboose, to becoming a National Concert Artist for The Wurlitzer Company then working with the most exciting train event in my musical career was to work on stage with Hector Olivera. I organized a train ride which included workshop, food, organ concerts. The train ride was from Zanesville Ohio, to Dresden Ohio, the home of the world famous Longaberger Basket Company. It was here that I had the opportunity to work on stage with who I consider the 'World's Top and greatest Organist of all time" Hector Olivera. [This opens external link] The event was outstanding, the crowd loved the organ concert's as well as the train ride and other events. Trains and Music......now I hope you better see why I love trains and performed my arrangements and concerts.
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