The
Last Steam Train to Dublin
© 2005 By Roger Turner
The Fireman checks
the firebox,
Its coals all burning bright.
The Driver checks the steam gauge,
Its pressure is almost right.
The guard he checks
his pocket watch,
In the rapidly fading light,
With whistle in mouth he’s waiting,
To send them into the night.
The Station Master
is angry,
It’s running late again,
Waiting for the mail van,
That’s holding up the train.
On the platform
a woman is weeping,
As her man he takes his seat.
In the carriage a child is wailing,
Asking for something to eat.
Passengers now
are all seated,
Doors are all slammed tight,
As the shrillness of the whistle,
Slices deeply into the night.
With clattering
and clanking,
And much hissing of steam,
The pistons start their pushing,
Working as a team.
The wheels they
start off turning,
Carriages shudder and shake,
The fireman wields his shovel,
Even though his back does ache.
With regulator being pushed open,
The wheels they spin on the rail,
Then all at once they grip the steel;
Never been known to fail.
Inching away from
the station,
The viaduct awaits the train,
Sturdily built of brick and stone,
Ready to take all the strain.
The wheels are
turning quickly,
Picking up speed as they go,
Passing by the crossing gates,
See how the fire does glow.
Speed is now increasing,
Wheels are turning fast,
On County Bridge the children,
Wave as the train hurries past.
Then off into the
countryside,
Enveloped by the night,
The Last Steam Train to Dublin,
Quickly vanishes out of sight.
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