Stop & Examine

Pacer poetry.

Some of our youngers RAIL readers have found ways to keep themselves busy during the lockdown.

We start with 12-year-old Liam Hetherington, who has provided an excellent addition to our long-running railway poetry thread, simply entitled Pacer.

I am a Pacer,

I’m not a racer,

People call me a nodding donkey ‘Cause my ride is so bumpy. I’m not like the rest,

They think they’re the best,

I’m old, I’m loud and I’m squeaky, The fumes from my engine are stinky. Those popular trains!

Those expensive trains!

They’re smooth, they’re new, they’re smart and quick, They’re clean, they’re quiet, they’re streamlined and slick. Old, squeaky and loud

But I’ll always be proud,

I kept people moving, no other trains could, My life had a purpose, my impact was good. I am a Pacer.

Next up is 13-year-old George Rossignol, who wrote in from Tervuren in Belgium: “Just because we have been in quarantine, doesn’t mean that we can’t do train things.

“I have recently made some biscuits in the shape of a few logos, thought that you might like to see them.” (above right)

Moving on to the adults, Alan Potter from Paisley sent us his special, personal COVID-related ticket that “may become less than necessary” as we ease out of lockdown (right).

“Perhaps the scenery from a real train window will be more enticing than the ones we have been used to over the past couple of months,” he hopes.

Other RAIL readers have written in expressing their pleasure at