Hemerdon Bank - By Steam

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Hemerdon Bank

Many a train traveller heading toward the city of Plymouth, may , may feel a sensation of going downhill for some distance. Hemerdon Bank, named after the adjacent mining village, lies to the east of the city.

Arriving to the top of the back via Ivybridge, the track twists and turns through some beautiful countryside before making it’s decent. As the train gathers speed, the outskirts of the city appear, passing the old town of Plympton to the left, and the once fishing village of Colebrook, on the right hand side.

The bank, yet another one of I.K.Brunel’s amazing feats of engineering, acts as a signpost to returning Plymothians to say, “Your back”. It is interesting to watch the mad scramble as bags. Coats, flasks of coffee and empty sandwich packets, are quickly gathered together, prior the arrival at the city’s North Road station.

By Steam

Tavistock Junction, and here we go
Not to fast, nor not to slow
Like horse’s running along the flat
Past Skew Bridge, just like that
Up the bank, past Colebrook village
Can’t stop for chips, beer or game of cribbage
Raise the steam, this is tough
As we huff, will it be enough
Aching pistons, hissing steam
Cross Stogey Lane, and trees of green
Carridges rock, clickidy clunk
One more heave, or else we’e sunk
Passengers gasp, as we toot the hoot
One last try, one last boot
Flying high, the top in view
A hiss of sigh, we’ve made it, PHEW!

© Ray Steed 2012