'Twas the Night Before Christmas rewrite

This rewrite of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Ron Proffitt for Narrow Gauge Train Modeling.

Please enjoy.

A Narrow Gauge Night Before Christmas
Ron Proffitt

`Twas the night before Christmas in the NG Roundhouse
Not a loco was fired, as the crew was getting soused;
The locos were all parked in their stalls with care,
In hopes that a Fireman soon would be there;

The Engineers were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Coal Plumes danced in their heads;
The Engineer in his `kerchief, the fireman in his cap,
Had just settled down for a short night's nap,

When down on the mainline there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from there cots to see what was the matter.
Away to the window they flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the Rails after a new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day in the valley below,
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature Train, and a Crummy on the rear,

With a little old Fireman, so lively and quick,
They knew in a moment it must be `ole Slick!
More rapid than eagles his Shovels they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

Next Ophir, and Ouray, then Rico and Vance!
Up Lizard Head, to Durango, and Silverton by chance!
To the top of the Grade! To the top of the wall!
Now Shovel away! Shovel away! Shovel away all!

As dry leaves that before the fall foliage fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the Summit the Loco's they flew,
With a Boxcar full of Toys, and a Caboose full too!

And then, with a clanking, we heard out in the yard,
The un-coupling and coupling of each little car.
As he blew the whistle, and was turning around,
Down the House Track…..he chugged with a bound.

It was dressed all in Brass, from its Stack to its foot,
And its Varnish was all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys it had stowed on its deck,
And it looked like a peddler Freight opening its pack.

The Engineer's eyes—how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
The Fireman's cheeks like roses, his nose like a cherry!
Their droll little mouths were drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on their chins, were as white as the snow;

The loco throttle, he held tight in his hand,
And the smoke it encircled, the train like a band;
They had broad faces and little round bellies,
That shook when they laughed, like bowls full of jellies.

They were chubby and plump, and right jolly old men,
And I laughed when I saw them, in spite of my grin;
A short toot of the whistle and a twist of their heads,
Soon let me know I had nothing to dread;

They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
And coupled to the cars; and started with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his head,
And giving a nod, down the track they sped;

He sprang to his Consist, to his Conductor gave a whistle,
And away they chugged, like the down of a thistle.
But I heard them exclaim, as they chugged out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."