Hmmm... a guy named CASEY talking about trains ... yeah, that works !! :-)
What about a contact microphone like we used to use with telephone handsets? Or a past-on guitar or instrument pickup (although I suppose those are piezo units which is where you started from ) but some sort of acoustic instrument pickup that can be pasted to the instrument/tracks?
I sort of like the piezo idea - as they are ready made and suitable for contact pickup - but then, piezo pickup are not exactly accurate sound capturing.
Interesting question. James