Snow and sleet, mud and rain
Walk that rail, check that train.
Sun so hot or wind so cold
Don't mind the weather, do as you're told.

Box car, flat car, tank or gon
Write the number then move on.
One rail, two rail, three and four,
This is the third train, how many more?

The rail is split, tie plate is gone,
Where's the sun? It's almost dawn.
A headlight shines upon the rail,
It's One Forty One with Chicago mail.

The rail moves and breaks free,
The engineer cries, "We're in emergency."
A knuckle breaks under the strain,
A Car Toad yells, "They've derailed the train."

Men start to run, torches to flare,
They work like the devil, the rail to repair.
Now they are done and the work is through
And it's departure time for One Forty Two.

© Richard