Steam Days Poetry modelled on my father’s memoires
Lads on a Transfer
The boys who were James’ and Witty’s class
In the Motive Power Depot
Down at Old Dairycoates
Are signed up as their men
Supernumerary Cleaners
Replacing drafted soldiers
We were designated our seniority
Soon were going through the motions
Paraffin cleaning gears and couplings
Senior Passed Firemen supervised us
Training us up, by learning us ‘Improvements’;
Droppings and Steam Action
Buckeye and Loose Links
All of the couplings
Stephenson’s Link Motion
All about Walschearts
The joys of Joy’s Radial Valve Gear
We were learning the Eccentrics
Between their Side Rod Pins
Hoping at the end of the war
To be sent for None-Returner’s Duties
Through the office of the Shed Master
Down at Botanic Gardens
Motive Power Depot
To step up to an engine cab
But for now doing cleaning
It is back to the twelve seater,
Single flush latrine room
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Reporting to Miss Jackson
Her Docket Clerks Diagram men
From their three shift system window
Seniority always organised Link Men
Passenger, Goods and Pilot Links
Sickness, Spare Markings and Specials
Marked Diagram Sheets show Turns of Duty
Here, in clean overalls,
Young Ronnie was learning
The running of the railways
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