I am searching for a poem called 'Stack Talk' that appeared in an article in an issue of TRAINS magazine around 2002-2004-2006, I guess I really can't say. I've lost the magazine, but wuld like to get a copy of the poem.
The poem described the sound of a double headed freight pulling a long drag up a steep grade. As the train nears the top, the second locomotive loses her footing & slips putting the whole train in jeopardy until the engineer gets traction again.
If anyone recalls this poem or can tell me how to find it, I would appreciate it
Poem is by William T. Church (dated 1951), on p.63 of the April 2001 issue.
"Have you ever been awake in the dead of the night? When all the world was still, and heard the sounds of a northbound, a-struggling up the hill.
Visualize -- the fire-red sky, the glow from the firebox door, as the tallow-pot with a-bended back, aids the stoker with its chore.
Hear the sharp crack from the cyclone stack, as the hogger drops her down. Thrill when she slips, drivers losing grip, spinning on dangerous ground.
When the big Jack slips on the snow-wet rails, her voice fades away in the night, only to come right back with a booming stack, and continue on with the fight.
Struggling onward, pounding hard, pulling with all her might. When she clears Tip-Top, her safety valve pops, and the big gal wins the fight."
Thank you OVERMOD. I guess I didn't recall correctly, but that is the poem.
It still gives me thrills to read it.
Well written prose (poetic or not) allows one to "read between the lines" and see in the mind's eye more than the just what the words say. I too, can see more in that poem than just the words on the page.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
RoadmasterI guess I didn't recall correctly ...
Actually, you did recall correctly: the article describes how the poem was inspired by the performance of doubleheaded locomotives (4-6-2 and 2-8-2) on a Missouri Pacific train.
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