(Note: this is the fourth in a series of personal relections of Wigan's 'Southport' railway line - all are in chronological order. This offering eandeavours to capture the constant rythm of the train along the rail tracks)

 

down on the platform

waiting for trains

five hundred youngsters

anxious for games

 

girls in their minis

boys in their flairs

flaunting their fashion

loving the glares

 

all clad in glad rags

best Sunday best

Jason King coolness

dressed to impress

 

me feeling special

full of teen beans

green combat jacket

tight ice-blue jeans

 

first train is ram-jam

full of young dudes

noisy and boisterous

teenager moods

 

exchange of gestures

all good clean fun

temperatures rising

fun has begun

 

second train busy

some cram right in

never a problem

next train we’ll win

 

third train is fruitful

looks plenty room

hoping we’ll get there

well before noon

 

pushing and shoving

packed like sardines

some on a budget

others with means

 

more push and pulling

once we’re on board

standing room only

pleasant concord

 

first thrills beginning

fervent half hour

perfume and cig smoke

so sweet and sour

 

docking at Southport

noise, diesel haze

breath-taking setting

first thrilling phase

 

fuel at Woolies

chips egg and peas

set for the fun fair

cool fresh sea breeze

 

candyfloss pleasures

‘kiss me quick’ hats

all geared up now

‘Wiganese’ brats

 

dark caterpillar

thrilling bowl slides

fun house and waltzer

fast rousing rides

 

creeps on the dodgems

clowns on the darts

charming young women

capturing hearts

 

river cave romance

crooked house fun

gallery shooting

son of a gun

 

dodging on dodgems

pleasure unfurls

just for attention

ramming the girls

 

some get connected

Southport romanced

kissing and fooling

day trip enhanced

 

most are just out for

thrills of the day

sweet toffee apples

teenage horseplay

 

soon it’s all over

back to the train

thankful for sunshine

no sign of rain

 

last minute shopping

cheap souvenirs

last minute kisses

pleasure and tears

 

inside the station

loudspeaker noise

overjoyed lassies

spirited boys

 

boarding the trains now

pleasurable nod

nothing so packed now

seeming quite odd

 

ardent reflections

shared and revered

fine satisfaction

crackpots are jeered

 

slowly the screeching

halts on the track

Southport line station

Wigan… we’re back!