Tag Archives: tourist trains

A YOU TUBE RUN WITH THE MERDDIN EMRYS (Ffestiniog Ry)

On “Timsvideochannel1”

On the driver’s side filming was done…

Filming seemed a breeze

On the MERDDIN EMRYS,

The camera looked firmly hung!

The last train to Porthmadog,

Which turned out quite a log jog…

Narrow gauge rails

Running through Wales,

Even a chasing white dog!

Walls sprung on one or both sides

Of the narrow strip where the train rides…

Many private crossing paths,

The more frequent  used have

A whistle post warning trains fly!

Sidings both old and well-used,

Giving riders good views…

Of the slate-hauling days

And narrow byways,

That the train softly chuffs through.

–Jonathan Caswell

 

HIGHER SPEED RAIL

HIGHER SPEED RAIL

(To  tune of “THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS”)

Been working on the N scale

Whenever I’ve found time,

Rebuilding older trackage

So electrics will work fine…

Putting in curved turnouts

Simulating former speed,

My truncated mainline

Once hosted iron steeds!

The story goes that this was once

A high-speed mainline,

Alas, this part of the railroad is

In serious decline…

A few banked curves remain to

Remind us what once was,

The rest of the roadbed

Like that economy, went bust.

But renewing hope is out there

My imaginary line,

Hosts a  tourist train

Which looks like it does fine…

A collection of Rail Diesel Cars–

Steam engines have a few–

An array of passenger train cars,

Restoration still to do!

When rebuilding’s finished

(It’s going to run this time),

They’ll have a ceremony

So get yourself in line…

Cooking for a grand shindig

The restaurants in town,

Will serve the finest dishes

With MOXIE passed around!

They’ll serve their finest cuisine

So chug that MOXIE down!!!!

–Jonathan Caswell

RESERVE BUYING: SAD STORY

RESERVE BUYING:  SAD STORY

He wanted to buy a train

Lettered for “BOSTON AND MAINE”…

All the ones

Were limited runs

He never could catch again.

Considered as a purist,

He modeled a train for tourists…

“N” scale in fact,

He laid his track

Intentions were the demurest!

He found two coaches on-line,

On reserve he thought it fine…

To wait and see–

Eventually–

He said, “they could be mine.”

Meanwhile, for other things

He fancied, the register rings…

Sickness struck

And out of luck

He gave up his B & M dreams!

–Jonathan Caswell

MULTIPLE TIME PERIODS

MULTIPLE TIME PERIODS

During his train buying spree,

He split into eras, two or three…

Steam, diesel-electric,

Both selected

Not just for tourism–you’ll see!

With all the wonder transpired,

His layout hasn’t been wired…

With this good stuff

Someone called his bluff,

Hot coals underneath him were fired.

Abrasives, bread and coal,

Join plastics, soda , on the roll…

Water treatment too

And textiles run through,

To keep his N scale trains full.

Alternative energy

From woodchips, fly ash, groceries…

Vie with tourist trains

For space on the main,

But the branch line is pure fantasy!

–Jonathan Caswell

WAITING FOR THE WAGON

WAITING FOR THE WAGON

The Wells Fargo wagon

In the musical, MUSIC MAN…

Brought anticipation

For every boy and man.

Raisins from Fresno

Or maybe cross-cut saw…

Instruments for the Professor,

Deliveries met with awe.

I’m awaiting delivery

Of a very special gift…

For myself (the wife okayed)

To my attitude lift.

Other things have come

From other companies…

But it hasn’t yet arrived

And I am in the lees.

An ALCO S-2, in N scale,

From a good company…

It hasn’t come while other things

Have come already!

I wanted one with zebra stripes

Looking close to the one we had…

At our railroad museum

‘Though the colors are off a tad.

My model passenger station

Is painted like that one then…

I’d love to run a tourist train,

Even if it is scaled “N”.

So I’m waiting for my package,

I’ll check if the bill’s been paid…

It sure would be disappointing

Given all the dreams I’ve laid!

–Jonathan Caswell