|
Written by John Clements
|
|
Wednesday, 31 May 2006 |
Yes,
in the early years we walked to school. I
vividly remember walking down the Camlough
Road in the dark, on a winter morning, and seeing
flashes lighting up the sky.
No, it
wasn't lightning. It was Bessie, the
Bessbrook tram, heading along the meadows towards the terminus at Edward Street.
 The
flashes were caused by the electric pickup on the tram making and breaking contact
with the badly worn centre rail.
This was all before the housing development in the 'Meadows' was built after
the war. Interesting thing is that the
contractor on that development, Mc Grath Brothers from Finaghy, as I recall,
went out of business because of a scandal allegedly associated with poor
quality construction. When we arrived in
Seattle in 1967
we found the same McGrath Brothers company was developing new homes in this
area.
Being fascinated by all things mechanical, I remember crossing the fields and
spending many enjoyable visits to Bessbrook station on the main Dublin line. George Bittles, the station master, enjoyed
the company, I suspect. He and I would
sit in the signal cabin and he would sometimes let me try to pull the levers
for the signals when a train was due. I
never could quite manage to pull them all the way. The highlight of a visit was to be there to
see the Enterprise Express with the beautiful, then new, blue steam locomotive
heading the train north from Dublin.
According to Mr. Bittles it was travelling
at eighty mph and slowing to the sixty mph speed limit to negotiate the curve
on the viaduct. The whole station shook.
What a sight! Still gives me shivers when I think of it.
... more ...
|
Reminiscence 
