Few modern bands have captured the spirit of classic English progressive rock as beautifully as Big Big Train. Founded in Bournemouth in 1990 by Greg Spawton and Andy Poole, and defined for over a decade by the magnificent voice of David Longdon, the band built a devoted following with warm, pastoral, richly detailed songs about English history, landscape and the people who shaped them. Here is every Big Big Train album, ranked from worst to best.

The short version

At the top sits The Underfall Yard (2009), the breakthrough that made their name, with the epic-laden English Electric albums and the pastoral Folklore close behind. At the other end, the early, pre-Longdon records tend to divide even the faithful. The full ranking is below.

How we rank them

This is one fan’s honest take on Big Big Train’s studio albums — we have set aside their companion releases of leftover and reworked material to focus on the proper albums. We weigh songwriting, atmosphere, ambition and emotional depth. The facts are accurate; the order is where the arguments begin.

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The lower reaches

14. English Boy Wonders (1997)

The second album, the product of a long and troubled recording. Pleasant early prog, but unformed and dated next to their mature work. Chiefly of historical interest for devoted fans.

13. Goodbye to the Age of Steam (1994)

The debut, an intelligent, melodic first statement that became a cult favourite among prog fans. Charming but raw, with the band still finding their voice. A promising, unpolished beginning.

12. Bard (2002)

A transitional early album, more assured than its predecessors but still short of their later grandeur. There are lovely moments amid the searching, and the ambition is clear. A modest but likeable step forward.

11. Gathering Speed (2004)

A concept album dedicated to the airmen and women of the Battle of Britain, and a return to traditional prog. Ambitious and heartfelt, if a little uneven in places, it is an earnest and underrated early record. A sincere step forward.

The middle of the pack

10. The Likes of Us (2024)

The first album with new singer Alberto Bravin, and a graceful, confident new chapter after profound loss. Warm and melodic, if not quite matching the peak years, it proves the band still have plenty to offer. A dignified fresh start.

9. Welcome to the Planet (2022)

A shorter, lighter album completed in the most difficult of circumstances. Charming and varied, if a touch slight next to their epics, it carries real emotional weight. A bittersweet, gentle record.

8. The Difference Machine (2007)

The pre-Longdon breakthrough, and their biggest-selling album to that point. Darker and more ambitious than what came before, with post-rock textures and starry guests, it set the stage for greatness. A crucial turning point.

7. Common Ground (2021)

Their highest-charting album, warm and reflective, recorded by the core four-piece. Melodic and heartfelt throughout, it is a fine late statement from the Longdon era. An underrated modern record.

The upper tier

6. Grand Tour (2019)

A lavish, Europe-spanning concept album inspired by the great tours of the 17th and 18th centuries, richly orchestrated and full of colour. Ambitious and beautiful, if a little sprawling. A grand, rewarding journey.

5. Grimspound (2017)

The companion piece to Folklore, and very nearly its equal. Expansive, melodic and gorgeously played, with “Brave Captain” a highlight and a guest turn from Fairport’s Judy Dyble. A superb album in its own right.

4. Folklore (2016)

A Progressive Music Award winner, and the flowering of their expanded lineup. Warm, pastoral and quintessentially English, with the majestic title track and the gorgeous “London Plane”. A modern classic.

The masterpieces

3. English Electric Part One (2012)

The first half of their sprawling English Electric project, and arguably its stronger half. “Uncle Jack”, “Judas Unrepentant” and the beautiful “Hedgerow” are peak Big Big Train. A near-masterpiece, and a joy from start to finish.

2. English Electric Part Two (2013)

Home to “East Coast Racer”, now regarded as their signature song: a 15-minute anthem of pure widescreen emotion celebrating a record-breaking locomotive. The elegiac closer “Curator of Butterflies” is nearly its equal. A towering achievement.

1. The Underfall Yard (2009)

The masterpiece: the breakthrough that made their name and became a touchstone for modern prog. The first album with David Longdon’s magnificent voice, it soars from the moving “Victorian Brickwork” to the 23-minute title epic. The definitive Big Big Train album, and the place to begin.

Every Big Big Train album, ranked

The full ranking at a glance, best to worst.

Where to start

New to Big Big Train? Begin with The Underfall Yard (2009) and English Electric Part Two (2013), the twin peaks of their catalogue, then explore the pastoral Folklore. For a guided path, see our where to start with Big Big Train guide, or follow the story in sequence with Big Big Train albums in order.

The verdict

In just over a decade, Big Big Train grew from a cult concern into one of the most beloved bands in modern progressive rock — makers of warm, humane, quintessentially English music unlike anything else in the genre. Their beloved lead singer David Longdon, whose voice defined their greatest era, died in 2021, a devastating loss; the band have carried on in his memory. If you only know the classics, the deeper cuts reward exploration; our pick of the most underrated Big Big Train albums is a good place to dig.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: count down their finest tracks with the best Big Big Train songs, browse our pick of their best Big Big Train albums, or head back to the full directory of every prog band’s discography, ranked.

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