Schaerbeek station looms in sight
Its option "car-on-train" well known;
Greets South of France in morning light!
With a “diving bell” atop its spire
And ticket office train display
Rail enthusiasts won't tire
Of whiling a few hours away.
“Train World” beckons through its doors
Track history it is hard to beat
Huge exhibition on three floors
King Philip opened it last week*!
In 1835 they came
Steam engines billowed clouds of smoke
Travel would never be the same
In fifty years – no town remote!
Royal carriages decked out
With rare wood seats, electric light
Emblazoned features seen throughout
All mod cons - impressive sight.
Mobile hospital with bed
A parcel service next to none
Memorabilia – railway workmen's shed
Take the audio guide – it's fun!
From “Pays de Waes” Thirty-Nine
To TEE and Eurostar
Now wired for laptops, saving time ...
Farewell the Age of Steam, Papa!
(c) Poet in the woods 2015
* Opened on 24th September, 2015 in Schaerbeek Station, Brussels.
"Pays de Waes" train 1939
I visited "Train World" a few years ago - it's as impressive as your poem describes. I've just enjoyed travelling on three different steam train tracks in Snowdonia.
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