History Music / BigBigTrain

The group was formed in Bournemouth by then-guitarist Greg Spawton and then-bassist Andy Poole (the two have traded instruments since then), who employed a series of singers and guest musicians to fill out their songs. Since their breakthrough 2007 album ''The Difference Machine'', Big Big Train’s popularity and album sales have steadily increased among prog fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

* '''Andy Poole''' – bass (1990-2009), guitars (2009-present), keyboards (2009-present)

* CoolUncle: Uncle Jack, from the eponymous song, is a well read man who enjoys taking strolls outdoors and sharing curiosities with his nephew.
* [[CoolTrain Cool Cool Train]]: Fitting with the band's name and usual themes, "East Coast Racer" tells the story of a locomotive called "Mallard" and how it set the record for highest speed attained by a steam train.

** "Brooklands" takes place in the mind of the legendary British racer John Cobb ... [[spoiler:on the day of the speedboat test drive that would claim his life on Loch Ness]].

* AbusiveParents: The third part of "A Boy in Darkness" describes a horrific real case, albeit obliquely.

* CoolUncle: Uncle Jack, from the eponymous song, was a well read man who enjoyed taking strolls outdoors with his nephew and teaching curiosities.

* CoolUncle: Uncle Jack, from the eponymous song.

* GriefSong: "Victorian Brickwork " from ''The Underfall Yard'' is partly about the death of Spawton's father, and a posthumous embrace of the unnoticed ties that had always bound them.

* GriefSong: ''The Underfall Yard'' is partly about the death of Spawton's father, and a posthumous embrace of the unnoticed ties that had always bound them.

* NostalgiaFilter: Averted in "A Boy in Darkness", in spite of the band's fondness for the Victorian era. The song vividly describes child labor and dismal working conditions in coal mines during the time.

* CoolTrain: Fitting with the band's name and usual themes, "East Coast Racer" tells the story of a locomotive called "Mallard" and how it set the record for highest speed attained by a steam train.

* LovableRogue: Explicitly stated in "Judas Unrepentant", which tells the story of a talented but failed artist who resorts to forgery to make a living. And while he's at it, he leaves hidden messages and anachronisms as a means to [[TakeThatCritics insult inept experts and critics]] and greedy dealers.

* NostalgiaFilter: Averted in "A Boy in Darkness", which vividly describes child labor and dismal working conditions in coal mines during the Victorian era.

* LovableRogue: Explicitly stated in "Judas Unrepentant", which tells the story of a talented but failed artist who resorts to forgery to make a living. And while he's at it, he leaves hidden messages and anachronisms as a means to [[TakeThatCritics insult experts and critics]].

* LovableRogue: Explicitly stated in "Judas Unrepentant", which tells the story of a talented but failed artist who resorts to forgery to make a living and leaves hints as a StealthInsult to experts and art dealers.

* BittersweetEnding: In "Judas Unrepentant", [[spoiler: the protagonist's talents are at last recognized, but only after chain-smoking, exposure to toxic fumes and stress caused by his forgery trial claim his life]].

* LovableRogue: "Judas Unrepentant" tells the story of a talented artist who resorts to forgery to make a living and leaves hints as a StealthInsult to experts. He is explicitly called so in the song.

* SurprisinglyGentleSong: After seven tracks of ''Sturm und Drang'', ''The Difference Machine'' closes out with the lovely, elegaic "Summer's Lease."

* CoolTrain: Fitting with the band's name and usual themes, ''East Coast Racer'' tells the story of a locomotive called "Mallard" and how it set the record for highest speed attained by a steam train.

* EpicRocking: As one might expect from a Progressive Rock band. Their songs often last more than six minutes, but the highlights are certainly''The Underfall Yard'', which clocks in nearly 23 minutes, and ''East Coast Racer'', which lasts almost 16 minutes.

* EpicRocking: The band isn't above an occasional half-hour epic such as "The Underfall Yard," but even their shorter tracks rarely clock in under five minutes, or lack complicated gear changes.

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[[caption-width-right:275: Pink Floyd, circa 1968. From left to right: Nick Mason, David Gilmour, Music/RogerWaters, Music/SydBarrett and Richard Wright.]]