Terry’s Irritating Pole

With much wheezing, rattling and entirely unnecessary enthusiasm, Driver Andrew-Barclay powers his trainload of freshly liberated coal away from Whimsy Pit and Wharf.National treasure Uncle Bob rubs his hands together in absolute delight, looking for all the world like a man who has just discovered an extra sausage at breakfast. Even the elderly steam freighter recently arrived from Flat Holm joins in the celebrations by producing a magnificent cloud of sooty black smoke, because unlike Uncle Bob it has no hands to rub together and must express joy through industrial emissions.Meanwhile, part-time conspiracy theorist Tin Hat Terry, who is on shunting duties today despite several objections from reality, repeatedly stomps his pole into the boggy ground with excitement. Unfortunately, he is completely out of time with the rhythm of the engine, the local church bells, and indeed the known laws of music.And finally, the ever-present Bob Geeza Cat watches proceedings with narrowed eyes and…