I walked the line to where the steel once ran. I walked the time line… Where the rail gap clatter gave way to wild bird chatter. Where commuter crush became deer grazing in a siding’s hush…
Wild flowers, weeds & shrubs flourish where the occasional sleepers lay and the odd rail cleat on the track bed , remind us where the rails once led, till those who govern these things said… Too expensive!…No more the train. Let the trucks & roads take the strain.
Today… Nature’s Food Chain replaces yesterday’s Freight Train Wolf’s Bain and Wart’s Ease instead of strap hanger’s carriage squeeze… meant kids would sit on their mother’s knees
Today there’s a diving Sparrow Hawk where once 3rd Class picked up on small talk and 1st was treated to business ‘squawk’. The river & passing pastures have seen it all; rail trade that kept a town alive gives way to help the wildlife thrive.
John Betjeman meets Pam Ayers and I doubt either would have been very happy... But I don't hear anyone complaining!