If you have never been to Australia, North America or Canada you won’t have seen one of their goods trains, which carry freight across their vast landscapes. These trains are enormous and if you have to stop at a crossing whilst one of them passes by, then be warned; you maybe there for a very long time.
Sometimes you can wait up to twenty minutes before these huge trains trundle past. In Canada, apparently, these trains can be up to 14,000 feet in length, which is 4km long!! They are very often filled with containers carrying all sorts of freight and are often carry double-decker loads. These gigantic beasts are really important to the economy of these countries and when we were in Jasper, we saw one such train. It was carrying such things as; foodstuffs, grain, coal, ore, lumber, machinery and as we sat at a table in the patio area of the small station, I took out my note book and began to write. The Behemoth Thunder roar of the train, As it leaves the station. Squeals of wheels As they gain traction, And the huge locomotive Takes up the strain And begins to pull. Steadily, slowly Wagon upon wagon Of double topped containers Filled with countless commodities, Judder and shudder Into life. When momentum is reached It rolls past Like a twisted metal snake Elongated, stretching Along parallel tracks. Minute after many minute Until it finally Disappears over the horizon Like a modern day Wagon train Reminiscent of the first settlers From time gone by. Sue Westcott (C.) 2017
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