The Journey

RichieO Sat Dec 10 2011, 20:21

The Journey

School has finished for this year
Great joy for me for its time you see,
to take a glorious journey.

Up early Saturday Morning,
Getting out of bed yawning.
Mum, Dad and Sister too,
all going on holiday to.

Dad with suitcases two,
secured with leather straps.
Off to bus stop we go,
in Morning lane we wait.

Along comes a red 'Roehampton Roarer' bus,
That's a Routemaster, number 30 bus.
Suitcases secured in luggage hole,
under the stairs to the upper deck.

On top deck I go, and out of window,
I do but pass this old City of smoke.
Baker Street, we stop for we change,
to catch the yellow line,
of the inner circle line.

To Paddington station we arrive.
For The Great Western Railway,
this gives me a thrill.
This station I view is filled to me,
with thousands of people,
with suitcases just like us you see!

All waiting to board a train,
bound for the West Country.
This famous station I do recall,
is filled with steam and smoke.
Chocolate and Cream is the interior,
now caked in soot and grime.

The smell of steam gives pleasure to me,
others do not see why?
Sounds of whistles from engines so proud,
Still coloured in their Middle Chrome Green coats.
Passengers, sit on suitcases and wait,
for a train to take them out West.

Tis time for us to board,
Our train that waits for us to haul.
Passed coaches old and new,
All coloured in Chocolate and Cream.
Board the train our family do,
Find seats in compartments to.

Time to go I can but hear,
The whistles blown by Porters do.
Hurrying the final passenger’s to board.
Green flags do wave,
Engine whistle does but shrill.
The train does start with a jolt
It’s forward and off we go.

Out of Paddington Station we go,
Pass the Engine Depot at Old Oak Common.
"Clickty-clack" goes the wheels,
Over the gaps on the track.
Looking out of the window I watch,
The whiteness of the steam.
From the engines small funnel,
Billowing out upon the wind.

Off I go through coaches so full
Mum shouts “Don’t go far” as if I would?
Look for the Guard was my task.
And ask for his advice.
“What we got on” I say
“A Castle” he does but reply
To pull these coaches of twenty five.

The train now going at speed
As we leave this city behind
For me it’s the country
And to adventures to roam free
With Cousin’s, I can’t but wait!

Train slows for Reading to stop
Guard opens his compartment doors
I help to unload the mail.
Along platform can be heard
“Cup-o-tea me dear” from Ladies,
with mobile tea trolleys.

More hustle and bustle on platform I find,
as passengers struggle to board our train.
More whistles and flags wave in hand.
Off down platform our train does steam,
Further into the countryside so green.
“Hey me lad” the Guard declares
“We’re not too far for you to go”
His accent is from the West you see,
A place they call Torquay.

Find Mum and Dad in coach they sat
With Mum saying “What’s that on your face”
Face now all dirty from smut and dirt,
No doubt from looking frequently,
out of the window....Tee Hee.
A glance out of window we all can see,
craved in white into the hill
Is the White Horse of Westbury.

Not far to go before our journeys end
Change at Westbury, for the local train.
No steam to pull the train, but a DMU.
(Diesel Multiple Unit)
Into Frome, our train does pull,
a small country railway station with siding too.

My journey is almost but over, my fun about to start
Dad struggles along with suitcases two,
While I run off to my Cousins house.

All kisses and hugs for Mums and Dads,
For me it’s
“Watcha Cousin’s, what’s the plan”
My journey’s ended my fun starts.

jinettyx Sun Dec 11 2011, 06:23

LOVED reading this epic of yours Rich.....I imagined the whole story and saw you as a little boy on a very special adventure.....( smacks of 'The Famous Five' ) So this is where your passion of trains began, and here you are living your dream in the work that you do...
...Fantastic writing !!! Jin x

RichieO Sun Dec 11 2011, 06:45

Hmm, Thanks Jin, but I think my passion for railways started well before then. My Mum blames my Grandad, he used to push me in my pushchair from Dalston to Liverpool Street Station. We used sit and watch all the train movements for hours on end. That's where I got the passion for the smells and sounds of the steam engines.
After hours of looking around the station he would push me back home, no bus rides for my Grandad...
I'll find some pictures and put them on the end of the poem.
RichieO xxx

BC Williams Sun Dec 11 2011, 11:07

Yes, I was thinking like Jin . . . from rides as a child. But I also considered maybe your father worked for the rail. At any rate, you've painted a very pleasant picture Rich.
Me? Been on one train in my life. It was an OLD one, scenic ride between Logan, and Nelsonville, Ohio:-) Rough but very interesting!

Good writing our boy:-)

bev

RichieO Sun Dec 11 2011, 20:28

Thanks Bev, My Uncle Jim was the railwayman he lived in Frome, with my Aunt, Grandma and Grandad.
He was a Lineman on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, then on the Great Western Railway.
My Dad was a Carpenter and worked in Wood Factory making furniture.
I am about to write about my Gran and Grandad house in Frome, some old memories keep flooding back.
RichieO

Lucie Mon Dec 12 2011, 00:20

crikey Richi, how ur life has been one long adventure....you tell it so well - you should write a book accompanied with all these wonderful piccy's u have..
Like

RichieO Mon Dec 12 2011, 05:33

Thanks Lucie, You and your Mum write so many lovely poems they all come from the heart. You both have a grand imagination. I am sure you remembere loads of adventures from you own childhoods.....
Maybe one day we can all meet up and swop stories....
Richie

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