A quiet Little station
down on the valley floor
An up fast has just flown through
But still I wait for more
The signal drops with a Clatter
as anticipation Builds
A Barking in the distance
Echos on the hills
I see the clouds rising
But not from the sky for rain
It is Blasting from the funnel
Of a very hard working train
I stand upon the Footbridge
My notebook in my hand
I hear the engine slipping
they’ll have to use the sand
The beat of the engine slows
as she regains her grip
her forward momentum waining
for that momentary slip
The smoke turns from white to grey
as the fireman feeds the beast
To keep her on her journey
From the west to east
The driver eases the Throttle
her footing now not weak
as the train barks along
searching for the peak
the summit is reached on time
as she snorts into veiw
The footbridge as my vantage
for a sight no longer new
the signal bell is ringing
searching for a clear line
as the train begins to gain
getting back on time
She thunders below the footbridge
Belching steam and soot
I smile and grin as an ember
lands beside my foot
as the tail lap gets more distant
and the signal turns to red
This will be a memory
for life until I’m dead
But one thing I’d forgotten
from these beasts I love
is the number is on the cabside
and cant be read from above