A true story for Sadje’s What Do You See? photo prompt.
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I remember it so well. I can still imagine myself sitting on the grass bank beside the railway track. In the distance, I would hear the chuff chuff chuff of a steam engine slowly getting louder and louder, I’d watch puffs of white smoke rising from the trees, getting closer and closer. Around the bend it came, the shiny black locomotive and its three green carriages clinging on behind. The ground beneath me shuddered as the driver waved and it carried on up the line.
Sometimes, I’d place halfpennies on the track. The train would squash them, making them the size of pennies that fitted into the bubble gum machine outside Mr Taylor’s cafe in Station Road! They pinged this way and that, and I lost quite a few, but it was fun!
Often, my friend and I went to Hailsham station at ten minutes to seven in the evening. A train finished its journey there and the engine had to change ends before making its return trip to Eastbourne. The driver allowed us to climb aboard the footplate and cling on as it went forwards, back past the carriages then forwards again before being reattached. The fireman would let us put coal in the firebox, and the driver let us blow the whistle! I can’t imagine that being allowed in today’s health and safety-conscious world!
The track was known as the Cuckoo Line. It was one of many that were shut down in 1963. It’s a popular walking and cycling route now, called the Cuckoo Trail. One station remains, the one next to ours at Horam. I often sit on the platform and remember those happy times.
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Image credit; Adam Gavlák @Unsplash
A wonder-filled true story Keith. Trains are so fun.
They are, and there’s a lovely restored steam railway near to me. Watching the old trains brings back so many happy memories
Yes, I do get nostalgic seeing the old engines!
Love this story!
Thanks, Beth!
Thanks for sharing your lovely memories Keith. Yes I doubt if kids would be allowed to have fun the way you guys did. Thanks for joining in.
The things we did back then would be unimaginable today!
I agree with you
I adore a good childhood story. Thanks for sharing! <3
It’s fun looking back! Kids today, constantly staring at their phones, don’t know what they missed!
What wonderful memories of spending time by the train lines. I love this, Keith. Well done.
For most of my teen years, my home backed onto the train track so it was just a matter of nipping through the hedge!
Amazing! You were a genuine railway child.
No wonder your tale felt so real, it was!
A lovely journey down memory lane Keith, it looks so pretty there ❤️
Thanks, Angela. It’s a lovely walk, whatever the season.
Good memories of time gone by with as usual good pictures.
Happy times. At least we have the trail to remind us of those wonderful days.
What wonderful memories!
Those were the days my friend!
Hi Keith – fun memories … I’ll always remember the St Erth to St Ives branch line – still going today … but back then it was steam and we would watch it from my grandmother’s house, or when we were walking across the golf-course and the line onto the beach at Lelant (Cornwall) … memory days. Equally this is great as my aunt (my father’s sister and her husband) moved to Horam and were there til 2009, while the Cuckoo line is iconic today as a cycle/walking track … cheers Hilary
Happy days! I can still see the steam train passing my school in Bexhill as I watched it from the classroom window! I love the Cuckoo Trail and walk different parts of it often. It brings back such happy memories. I wonder if your aunt ever visited my pub close to Horamwhen I ran it back then.
Great relaxing memory Keith! Yeah I’m with you, I don’t think kids would be allowed to do that now.
…like so many other things we did back then! Those were the days my friend.
For sure!
A lovely story, Keith. Old engines were more fascinating in spite of lots of smoke. Childhood memories come back, indeed.
Indeed they were. It’s so good that many have been restored and continue to bring pleasure.
Wonderful memories, I love the penny one! Children always have the best ideas.
Thanks, Elizabeth. It was fun searching for them after the train passed!