Stream of steam hits you
as you step into museum tunnel entrance
after overview pictures and maps
you’re guided through mock-up offices and stores
where you overhear
worker about to get pay docked
admonished for being late twice this week
you overhear
storeman giving the brush-off to new broom request
since the old one’s not been yet returned
as if new to the Works, this first-time visitor is confused
which shed to choose,
like erstwhile apprentices lost in the Works
finally found the foundry
found the right Pattern
found notice re short-time working
your job’s on the line
GWR did it all, not by mirrors, but by notice
You knew where you stood when you went to the lav
Spelled out in black and white graffiti-proof metal
Western Bulwark, Viscount Portal
and that’s not all
Sir James Milne 7001
Earl of Devon 5048
With Milk Train Only in between
to and from London
Hop on the Soccer Special
see Swindon play Swansea
for twenty one and six seventh December
in year as yet unknown
Workmen using this closet
Must on entry
Give their ticket number
To the attendant
If longer than ten minutes is taken
The whole time will be stopped
By Order
By Golly
Worked five years Carriageside 1954-58
Puts Brunel before Churchill
Brunel did it on his Todd
Churchill had Government and Generals behind him
Brunel , a Genius
Never be another one like him
Built not just bridges but boats too
Cut out Box Tunnel like a knife through butter
With engineers and navvies not computers and CADs
Back in 54, thought had job for life
Got suspicious Trip Week
Witnessed London man dig bore holes Carriageside,
24 Shop that was, Oasis that it is now
Analysed the samples
he thought something was up
Testing ground for future building he thought
Big job was the clear-outs
23 Shop cut up old wagons wood or metal
with acetylene torch
Tiring job was pushing wheels between Shops
From Lifting Shop to Wheel Shop
Where wheels fixed to machine
Where big metal rings turned into tyres
pressed onto metal wheels
with retaining key on back
Another thing he heard
Was
Chichester Flyer Speed Record got beaten
By Driver with one extra coach
got told to keep it under his hat
Or he’s be out on his ear
‘twas teamwork wot dunnit
driver didn’t fire up too often
so fireman didn’t get tired shovelling unnecessary coal
all knew bad driver s made shovellers work harder
best keep right side of driver
best keep on right side of driver
as you refill tender from mile-long trough
a giant water pooper scooper dropped spot-on
along the mile long trough at 60 miles an hour
one long minute draught
ambrosia for the Gods of Steam
“I cut a few of these up”, Edwin casually observed
standing before a genuine GWR Brake Van
“I cut a few of these up”
16-20-25 tonnes
weight made up by ballast in the floor
ballast melded after 40 years on track
melded metal hooks and chains
where today teenagers cut up their burgers
I cut up a few of these on Drive–in MacDonald’s
after shunted down from Gorse Hill Bridge
Then before us the secret crept out
This wagon was a cut and shut case
Top had been re-welded to the bottom
To replace the genuine article
But genuine enough was the memory of
acetylene torch cutting out the bottom first
then slicing though the woodwork
she posed before the Wall of Names
her unwell husband just out of frame
she pointed to her father Pugh
she pointed to her mother Tyler
on the Wall of Names
from Boiler Shop and Spring Shop
the Tylers and the Pughs
remembered on the Wall of Names
her unwell husband just out of frame
now Glynn’s the man
for thirty years he followed in Brunel’s footplates
apprenticed fitter, turner and erector
down at A Shop did erecting
from Steam, to Diesel to Churchward Offices
he trod his thirty year Brunel path
an engineer who did what it said on the tin
Glynn the Engineer made engines, engines for trains
all stopped twenty years ago last week
his Big Family felt on its shoulder the economic hand of fate
he’d followed his father into Works’ trade
his father who left the asbestosis way
some workmate colleagues left by same route too
yet thankful is he to stand in this Kingdom today
on Isambard Brunel’s Birthday
Glancing at the Wall of Names
he spots many he knew
he meets each Christmas with the still left few
he manages a smile as he wanders Boiler Shop today
re-vamped as Outlet Village with its ringing of tills
not able to hold a candle to the Boiler Makers’ rivet gun roar
he still meets at Christmas with the still left few
Community Poet, Tony Hillier, has brief chat with Glynn on Brunel’s 200th Birthday Celebrations at Steam Museum, Swindon 9 April 2006
Railway Village was Brunel’s Baby
He brought skilled workers from Midlands and North
Housed them in the Barracks
Before moving them into Railway Village houses
Next came the Welsh workers to do refined furnishings
When Barracks not good enough moved to Cambria Bridge Road
Where still a Welsh community to be found
Around their own Welsh Chapel
While Barracks went to Wesleyian Church
Then to via Rail Museum to Martha’ s Community Crossroads
Meet the Giggling Helpfuls
I met them
on Brunel’s Birthday down Steam Museum
Met Giggling George aged six
Met Helpful Harry aged ten
They’d toured Steam with family
were taking a rest with that crew
and this, this is what they knew :
Brunel, though a bit thin,
Reminds them of Fat Controller
Brunel, good at making trains
had great imagination
Smoked like his trains he did
fifty cigars a day
Giggling George and Helpful Harry
Bright sparks the pair of ‘em
Bright enough
to match train engine sparks flying onto trackside
Parents and Grandad add
Brunel Brilliant Engineer
Ahead of his time
Kind to his workers
A wonderful man
Man of vision
Let nothing stand in his way
Brushed aside disbelievers
Worked hard
Perhaps worked himself to death
Gave his life to Rail
Grandad here, did his bit too
Junior Porter at Birmingham
Got commendation for saving cattle from burning train
With a Day Out like this to Steam Museum
No wonder grandchildren Harry and George
Seem to be touched by the Brunel Spirit
and even find time for a giggle
Community Poet, Tony Hillier, stops to chat with Garry and his family from West Midlands on Brunel’s 200th Birthday Celebrations at Steam Museum, Swindon 9 April 2006
So off to Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
This Mad Hatter’s
Side-burned and high top hatted
Hat high as an aqua duct plinth
Pass the proud pushchaired parents
Perusing their prodigies
As they Q&A re Brunel where he lived what he did
Then under eights’ parents hope to engineer that
Lucky Ticket comes up and music stops
At their infants’ lap in this pass the parcel game
Meanwhile, from balcony exhib Battle of the Gauges
Steam Cleaner looks on
Between squirts and wipes of glass panels
Cleaning black top hat icing fingerprints
Left by invited culprits who ate Brunel Birthday Cake
Which welcomed curious engineering culprits
to whom Brunel would have raised
his aqua duct plinth high, high top hat
at this somewhat mad, Mad Hatter’s Brunel Tea Party
Accessibility Guideline Notes
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