Queen of the Rails

The engine: Long and black

And sleek as she could be

She shook the earth in her approach

As her heraldry.

An atmosphere of steam and smoke

Expanding in her wake

The Queen-of-the-Rails speeds on

An arrival soon to make.

Massive is her presence

Enormity her design

Power is her excess

This Queen is so refined

Once she ruled with majesty

When o’er the rails she flew

But … now, this one last time,

The railway bids: “Adieu”.

Slowly when she comes to stop

We see she’s thoroughbred

When water, steel and hard, black coal

Within her there are wed.

Her regal-ness resplendent

In fittings’ shining bright

Commanding our respect

O’er the rails of her last flight.

Now sitting at the siding

She’s puffing rhythmic breath

The museum’s destination

Of her life commits its’ theft.

Photographs will mimic

Her image of today

But missing from those photos:

Glories of Yesterday

When o’er the steel she thundered

Demanding from all who saw

Respect for Her grand power

Which held them all in awe.

But Glory, she found, was fleeting

When “progress” came to call

Her future then was set in stone

In the writing on the wall.

Now we hear the brake release …

Her throttle then is moved …

She inches down the track there

Where the land with steel is grooved

Then as she gains her speed

And whistles out her “yell”

An announcement for all to hear:

“I know I’ve served you well!”

She’s journeyed through the ages

And a boy – an old man now -

Watches as she fades away -

He waves, and then says: “Ciao!”

But in his mind is yesteryear

With his dog there by his side

Watching near the railroad tracks

Where the Queen-of-the-Rails did ride.

And long from now whenever

He says: “Remember when …”

In those times of reverie,

She’ll come alive … again.