is Rowland Smith,' he said, and at the same moment, almost laughing, took two steps forward and shook my hand.
I was so startled by this that at first I forgot to give my own name in return.
'If you like high speed,' said Smith, unbuttoning his coat, 'then why are you portering?'
Now this, I thought, is the very question.
Smith took out a silver cigarette case - 1 had been right over this - and began to hit one of the cigarettes on the back of it; it was engraved on the front. The black floorboards were going one way, the sunbeams another. He struck a match.
‘ I know it will be a difficult transition to make, sir,' and I carried on without a particle of fear, but I am committed to a life on the footplate.'
It was the most important remark I had ever made, and the following words, mixed with smoke, came out of Smith's mouth: "The path that leads to success must be pursued through all its asperities and obliquities.'
'I shall remember that, sir,' I said.
A silence fell between us and I perceived that the time had come to make one further leap. 'Do you have any involvement with the London networks, sir?'
He gave me a half nod, and said, 'Have you heard of the South Western Railway?'
'The London and South Western? Only this week I was reading of the excellent timings for ocean passengers between Plymouth and London.'
'Indeed. Have you ever been over South Western metals?'
'No, but I've read so much concerning that excellent company that I do feel acquainted with its territories.'
'In The Railway Magazine?'
I nodded.
‘I thought so,' he said. "They're always looking out for engine cleaners to come on, you know, and these fellows are on the footplate as passed firemen, working, for example, slow-goods in not above six months.'
'You have a very close acquaintance with the network?' I said.
'I am a railway man through and through,' said Smith.
Well, you do not look it, I thought, and I looked this thought of mine straight at him, and he could see it for what it was: a sporting challenge.
'I'm getting on pretty well here,' I said. 'Of course, footplate work would be much more like it, but my father was anxious ...'
At this I faltered, but Rowland Smith nodded and said: 'Go on.'
'He wanted me at a desk, sir.'
'He is no doubt a respectable gentleman.'
'He is a butcher.'
Smith made a face that I fancied meant: well, it's better than nothing.
'The South Western needs firemen,' he said, 'which is to say that it needs drivers.'
'But I am here,' I said in desperation. And at that moment the rooks circling over the trees, half a mile above the signal box, started making their lonely noise, and the whole place seemed like a graveyard that I had to get out of.
‘I will have a letter sent up to you care of this station from the headquarters of the South Western,' said Smith. 'What is your name?'
I gave him my name along with many assurances that, if given a chance, I would not be found wanting; then his train came. In a flurry I helped him up into a first-class compartment, passed his box to him, and he gave me no money, as befitting a platform hand who was really an engine man in disguise. When the train left, I returned to the empty waiting room and sat there alone until the heat from the fire and the heat from the sun had faded away, at which moment, try as hard as I might, I could not remember what either one had felt like.
Chapter Six
Tuesday 17 November - Friday 20 November
On my second morning as a Nine Elms man, I woke to find that the pool on the floor of my lodge and the black mark on the ceiling had been added to considerably. I looked out of the window: it was raining hard, and London in the rain, with all the colour and light gone, frightened me. So too, and for the first time, did thoughts of a life on the railways.
It was as though I had brought down a curse on myself for coming out with the name of Rowland Smith, I decided as I pulled on my boots. Arthur Hunt, who may
I was so startled by this that at first I forgot to give my own name in return.
'If you like high speed,' said Smith, unbuttoning his coat, 'then why are you portering?'
Now this, I thought, is the very question.
Smith took out a silver cigarette case - 1 had been right over this - and began to hit one of the cigarettes on the back of it; it was engraved on the front. The black floorboards were going one way, the sunbeams another. He struck a match.
‘ I know it will be a difficult transition to make, sir,' and I carried on without a particle of fear, but I am committed to a life on the footplate.'
It was the most important remark I had ever made, and the following words, mixed with smoke, came out of Smith's mouth: "The path that leads to success must be pursued through all its asperities and obliquities.'
'I shall remember that, sir,' I said.
A silence fell between us and I perceived that the time had come to make one further leap. 'Do you have any involvement with the London networks, sir?'
He gave me a half nod, and said, 'Have you heard of the South Western Railway?'
'The London and South Western? Only this week I was reading of the excellent timings for ocean passengers between Plymouth and London.'
'Indeed. Have you ever been over South Western metals?'
'No, but I've read so much concerning that excellent company that I do feel acquainted with its territories.'
'In The Railway Magazine?'
I nodded.
‘I thought so,' he said. "They're always looking out for engine cleaners to come on, you know, and these fellows are on the footplate as passed firemen, working, for example, slow-goods in not above six months.'
'You have a very close acquaintance with the network?' I said.
'I am a railway man through and through,' said Smith.
Well, you do not look it, I thought, and I looked this thought of mine straight at him, and he could see it for what it was: a sporting challenge.
'I'm getting on pretty well here,' I said. 'Of course, footplate work would be much more like it, but my father was anxious ...'
At this I faltered, but Rowland Smith nodded and said: 'Go on.'
'He wanted me at a desk, sir.'
'He is no doubt a respectable gentleman.'
'He is a butcher.'
Smith made a face that I fancied meant: well, it's better than nothing.
'The South Western needs firemen,' he said, 'which is to say that it needs drivers.'
'But I am here,' I said in desperation. And at that moment the rooks circling over the trees, half a mile above the signal box, started making their lonely noise, and the whole place seemed like a graveyard that I had to get out of.
‘I will have a letter sent up to you care of this station from the headquarters of the South Western,' said Smith. 'What is your name?'
I gave him my name along with many assurances that, if given a chance, I would not be found wanting; then his train came. In a flurry I helped him up into a first-class compartment, passed his box to him, and he gave me no money, as befitting a platform hand who was really an engine man in disguise. When the train left, I returned to the empty waiting room and sat there alone until the heat from the fire and the heat from the sun had faded away, at which moment, try as hard as I might, I could not remember what either one had felt like.
Chapter Six
Tuesday 17 November - Friday 20 November
On my second morning as a Nine Elms man, I woke to find that the pool on the floor of my lodge and the black mark on the ceiling had been added to considerably. I looked out of the window: it was raining hard, and London in the rain, with all the colour and light gone, frightened me. So too, and for the first time, did thoughts of a life on the railways.
It was as though I had brought down a curse on myself for coming out with the name of Rowland Smith, I decided as I pulled on my boots. Arthur Hunt, who may
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