THIS exists in M-E?

[davem]

Of course, 'express train' need not imply a machine like a steam engine. In fact even an 'engine' need not necessarily refer to a mechanical device

train (n.)
c.1330, "a drawing out, delay," later "trailing part of a skirt" (c.1440), also "retinue, procession" (c.1440), from O.Fr. train (fem. traine), from trainer "to pull, draw," from V.L. *traginare, extended from *tragere "to pull," back formation from tractus, pp. of L. trahere "to pull, draw" (see tract (1)). Train of thought first attested 1651. The railroad sense is recorded from 1824, from notion of a "train" of carriages. British train-spotting "hobby of observing trains and recording locomotive numbers" is recorded from 1958.

engine
c.1300, from O.Fr. engin "skill, cleverness," also "war machine," from L. ingenium "inborn qualities, talent," from in- "in" + gen-, root of gignere "to beget, produce." At first meaning a trick or device, or any machine (especially military); sense of one that converts energy to mechanical power is 18c., especially of steam engines. Engineer "locomotive driver" is first attested 1839, Amer.Eng.

So a 'train' could be pulled by animals - a 'wagon train' for example, & an 'engine' is simply a 'clever device'.

In other words, one could, in fact, have both 'trains' & 'engines' in M-e without them needing to be even steam powered.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Linguistic possibilities, davem, true - but how would those usages of the words account for the "express"?!

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Not to mention that one would also need to identify what kind of a 'clever device' comes out of a tunnel, whistling...

[davem]

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Linguistic possibilities, davem, true - but how would those usages of the words account for the "express"?!

Well, an 'express train' is simply a train with a limited number of stops, so that doesn't present a problem. It could refer to a mule train, a wagon train - ie, a 'caravan' which has a single or perhaps a couple of stops. One assumes therefore that most trading in M-e would be done by 'train', & given the widely spaced communities these 'trains'/caravans would be 'express'.

Originally Posted by Legate

Not to mention that one would also need to identify what kind of a 'clever device' comes out of a tunnel, whistling...

A rabbit with a kettle on its head...

[The Sixth Wizard]

But then those things are relatively slow. Why would the hobbits relate them to a massive whizzing firework?

~Presenting Problems, Not Answers

[Feanorsdoom]

Interesting subject, and a passage I'm sure I passed over without much thought in my first readings. I see the "express train" as translatory license spoken of above. Unfortunately, in the Shire, there were presumably no regularly scheduled methods of transportation to equate it with beyond perhaps some form of postal communication with towns at its perimeter. Minus any institutional conveyance, I think we are left with a hobbit's view of fast-living outsiders, like the men who frequent Bree. Imagine that there may be regular equine postal stops at Bree for a general (human) northern M-e route, and we have something a hobbit might think of as an "express train".

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Feanorsdoom

Unfortunately, in the Shire, there were presumably no regularly scheduled methods of transportation to equate it with beyond perhaps some form of postal communication with towns at its perimeter. Minus any institutional conveyance, I think we are left with a hobbit's view of fast-living outsiders, like the men who frequent Bree. Imagine that there may be regular equine postal stops at Bree for a general (human) northern M-e route, and we have something a hobbit might think of as an "express train".

But as Six pointed out quite well I think, why would they use the expression for a mule-drawn cart in connection with a huge loud flying firework dragon?

[Volo]

"The dragon passed like an express train, turned a somersault, and burst over Bywater with a deafening explosion."

"Poor Bilbo couldn't bear it any longer. At may never return he began to feel a shriek coming up inside, and very soon it burst out like the whistle of an engine coming out of a tunnel."

So, what do we have here:

1. "express train like a dragon passing" (with bursts)
It's hard to make a slow caravan of wagons from this. Deffinitely refers to something fast. Though we shouldn't forget the "express"-part which means that the train is for passangers. So it can't be a mine cart either. And the "dragon"-part, doesn't it form the words "smoke" and "long", "big" and "wormish" in your mind?

2. "whistle of an engine coming out of a tunnel" (with bursts)
It is even harder to imagine this refering to anything but a steam engine of a train.

First I thought that this could refer to some invention of Saruman, as seen in the film (if I'm not confusing things), or a mine cart. Now it is pretty impossible to connect this with Saruman or mine carts.

Sorry, Legate, I can only think of something like the train in Harry Potter from the phrases above, and I very much doubt that anything like that would exist in M-e. Though this is an interesting subject!