The Christmas White Rose.

Eager we waited,

Sheltered by the platform canopy,

In the cold wet breeze this early Saturday morning,

And then I heard someone cry,

Here it comes!

It’s on its way!

And I started to see its approach,

Its rumbling sound getting louder,

As it let off steam,

I stood amongst all the enthusiasts,

While I stood posed,

On its approach,

Capturing the moment,

So that someday I might recall the memory,

Of the 44871 locomotive,

Or the Black 5 I heard someone say,

As it passed by without stopping by,

Having left Kings Cross earlier in the morning,

Stopping at Stevenage on the way,

To collect more eagerly waiting folk,

And stopping again at Huntingdon and Peterborough,

On its way to York,

Travelling the Christmas White Rose,

With plenty of time,

For folk to walk the cathedral city,

And enjoy a spot of lunch,

And a cup of tea,

Or something stronger than tea,

Silly me!

Before they’re hauled back,

From York to London,

In the darkness of the night,

Travelling the Christmas White Rose.

I met Keith, an amateur photographer, same as me, and a train enthusiast, at Hitchin Railway Station on Saturday November 18th 2023 during a wet early morning to enjoy the steam trains as they passed by!