‘A4’ slips AwAy…

A windy, wet evening, just a little above freezing. An ‘A4’ draws to a stop. Impatient.

Doors open further back. Steamedup windows filter a warm glow that contrasts with maroon.

Steam wisps into darkness; droplets dribble down curving cladding.

A platform light picks out the flat cabside panel, the number bright against dark green: 60009.

More green, a lamp from the rear. Nobody wants to linger.

Union of South Africa restarts its London-bound train, offering tip-toeing power to damp rails. The quickest of blasts on the chime and it’s gone. How many times more?

As yet… we don’t know. Indeed as ‘Number Nine’ slipped under the ironwork of Peterborough’s Crescent Bridge on December 15, there was still no final news on whether John Cameron’s engine would gain an extension for all of 2019 (SR487). Or whether a permanently static future will still arrive in late April/early May as previously expected.

Will ye come back… again?