The Making of Flying Scotsman (a phantasmagoria)

[John Ashworth]

A poem by the Poet Laureate Simon Armitage marking the 100th anniversary of the "Flying Scotsman", the first steam locomotive ever officially to reach the speed of 100 mph (160 km/h), and the holder of the record for the longest ever non-stop run by a steam loco, 422 miles (679 km).

See attachment, with some highlights copied and pasted below, or online at https://www.simonarmitage.com/wp-conten ... mitage.pdf.

The Making of Flying Scotsman (a phantasmagoria)

The blueprint came from the future, plans
for a spaceship powered by water and coal;
they fired up the furnace with kindling and oily rags
and strong-armed the bellows till the flames sang...

Then a nip of single malt and it coughed into life...
straining, hissing, the rippling bodywork pouring with sweat,
skirts trimmed with petticoats of steam,
the spiracle venting cumulonimbus into a blue sky,
devilment glowing red in the lantern’s lens
,and stood there all hide, horn, bill, hoof, claw, fin, and tail
as they fell to their knees, astonished to find
this beast had wings -this creature could fly.