GOING CANADIAN (NATIONAL)

Going Canadian,

The collector bought another engine…

From RAPIDO TRAINS

It only remains

Just when his bank’s charge comes forth!

–

AfteR that special exhaust

Piping C.N. switchers have across…

their system-wide

Practice he spied,

If the model could be bought for minimal cost!

–

Without signing up for EBAY,

He found the right price to pay…

EBAY will arrange

Canadian currency exchange,

And he’ll receive it in the mail, someday!

–

Jonathan Caswell

Photo of the N scale GMD-1 model courtesy RAPIDO TRAINS, found on Google images. His is an older release.

LET US SLEEP ON IT*

woe betide them that try

to se in stone what needs more time…

My turn table lost?*

without further cost?

Then I looked near bed time!

–

I thought I’d lost my lead

To that tyrn table, but indeed…

A curve could be made

With large enough radius laid,

To satisfy the using of steam.

–

A switch I’d previously cut in,

To one engine stall could run…

The other could Branch

From the turn table switch–

My space problem was overcome!

–

Envisioning a massive water wheel,

Fed by a sluice pipe has appeal…

This motorized–

Already planned (what a surprise?),

For which the tourists would positively SQUEAL!

–

And then, the bridge over a mill dam flood—

If I wanted, a covered bridge wouldn’t take TOO MUCH blood…!

Just for light tourist trains–

Steel reinforced all the same–

An occasional short freight could be good!

-0

I wish I could draw all this now,

All it took was time to see how…

Possibilities arise

by opening one’s eyes,Imagination plus a day’s-worth of wrinkled brow!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

*NOTE–Refer back to the post..ECONOMIC CHOICES IN MINIATURE…posted yesterday~!

COMMENTS COLUMN (HIS)

Looking at his Comments Column,

A lot of people “call” him…

Lots of LIKES–

Stands to rights–

They like many posts within!

–

Others receive more Comments,

But his output is immense…

What–a dozen–

And he’s still buzzing,

To do so wouldn’t make sense!

–

Sometimes particular posts,

Of course his own the most…

may receive

A comment brief,

And that more than most!

–

But each has their own

Time limits to be “on”…

Grateful he is

For LIKES that whiz,

Stacking up here to beyond!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

HOPE HE LIKES ALCO LOCOMOTIVES!

A solitary man

On the turntable span…

He’s not Security

We know with certainty,

He’d be inside on his can!

–

Apologies to all security guards…including me!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

MODELING MEMORIES

His memories of New England various,

Were by and large vicarious…

Mostly pictures he saw

with interest and awe,

His chances of a visit–hilarious!

–

Point of fact he was too young,

Couldn’t drive himself even some…

The eight-hour ride

Once a summer left wide,

Window for relevant magazines to come!

–

Still his interest grew,

Past the time when he knew…

This paint scheme was gone,

these ALCOs moved on.

But the history he wanted to view.

–

Found an N scale engine thus,

Painted just like this—a plus–

To re-enact

Historical fact,

Without too much fuss!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN–SURVIVES!

The train ’round our tree survives,

It must own several lives…

train tracks glued down

won’t shift around,

But the trains do go flying–surprise!

–

Being careful my wife and I,

Have avoided seeing the train fly…

It at times left the rails

So far my steamer fails,

To run here–I don’t know why?

–

Helps that we have no kids,

Nor cats to sit amidst…

Not much room

Nor do our trains zoom,

But they’ve been known to do splits!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

 

CHRISTMAS EVE–PLUS 35 MINUTES!

Roads are skating rinks,

The wife of safety thinks…

Stay home from church

And encourage,

Me in similar stakes!

–

So staying up to write,

At least part of this night…

Exhaustion

Will soon have won,

I’ll give up and  turn out my light!

(By the number of TYPOS, that may be soon!!!)

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

–

 

 

 

NOBODY WANTED OUR POT–LUCK!

We took what I thought worth taking,

A soup of my own making…

Boiled cabbage and ham

But no thank you Ma’am,

Just me and the wife were taking.

–

Competition was rather strong,

Lasagna and casserole gone…

What little we ate

I’d consolidate

And use for suppers till gone!

–

I had someone’s lemon meringue,

Almost too sweet–no tang–

Along with ice cream

(And lasagna again!),

Enough food for the whole gang!

–

My wife left her pink NORTH  CREEK hat,

I’m rescuing stuff like that…

Everyone knows

Keeping track of clothes

Is anything but old hat!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

 

JUST LIKE ITS REAL-LIFE PROTOTYPE

I’d bought a 2-8-0 steamer,

“Consolidation-type” in N scale…

I had one train circle running

And delightedly put this engine on rails!

–

This BOSTON AND MAINE “2-8-0”

It didn’t travel far…

Before the engine stubbed its toe

And the front wheels went ajar.

–

My careful but quickly laid track

Was not perfectly smooth….

And like it’s prototype,

The engine wheels hit a cross-groove!

–

Rough track is anathema

To models with light pilot wheels…

Even the real ones suffered

From extra tight curve squeals!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

THOUGHT IT WAS MONDAY…!

Worked a Saturday shift,

Got mixed up in time just a bit…

Woke up confused–

Had I over snoozed,

Had I missed a doctor’s appointment?

–

Went out to our living room,

TV preachers, near noon…?

Missed church–

Left them in the lurch,

They’ll have to lead their own hymn tunes!

–

SUNDAY–we praise our LORD–

At church or home He’s adored…

But we confused

Miss out on Good News,

Assembling to hear God’s word!

–

–Jonathan Caswell

Featured illustration is a picture of a church similar to one the author attends.