It was unlike

any conversation

I had under-

took with a

train guard before,

normally the

discourse was

limited to

the duty bound

and the sent-

iment of

tickets please

with gruffness

and dampening spirit

between stat-

ions and stares….

 

This though was illuminating and joyful,

as the young man known as Crispy Baghands

from Blackpool told me of his story

and how he had joined the post of sentry on parade

of Britain’s railways, Beeching’s great and terrible crime