Coal Fire

The thieves have been stealing the signalling wire
Or the switches are broken, a cow’s on the line
A howling great storm has brought trees crashing down
The wrong kind of leaves, the snow is too fine

Swift through the vales, pounding the rails
Ever in haste, no time to waste

Hundreds all waiting, they glare at the clock
They’ve meetings to get to, money to make
The timetable’s useless, the numbers are lies…
A sigh of relief, as the ground starts to shake

Swift through the vales, pounding the rails
Ever in haste, no time to waste

Heard past the tannoy, a whistling ghost
Glimpsed through the fog, an elegant gleam
A thundering monster, its pistons at speed
A belly of coal fire, a fury of steam

Swift through the vales, pounding the rails
Ever in haste, no time to waste

Scream through the station, mechanical rage
Roaring and rattling, wind in its tail
Businessmen falling, their coffees all spilled
Shielding their ears from the drum-splitting wail

Swift through the vales, pounding the rails
Ever in haste, no time to waste