Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat

Skimbleshanks The Railway Cat is one of the cats we are introduced to directly.

Lyrics
Skimbleshanks, the railway cat

The cat of the railway train!

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There's a whisper down the line at 11:39

When the Night Mail's ready to depart

Saying "Skimble! Where is Skimble?

Has he gone to hunt the thimble?

We must find him or the train can't start!"

-

All the guards and all the porters and the station master's daughters

Would be searching high and low

Saying "Skimble! Where is Skimble?

For unless he's very nimble

Then the Night Mail just can't go!"

-

At 11:42 with the signal overdue,

And the passengers all frantic to a man

That's when I would appear, and I'd saunter to the rear

I'd been busy in the luggage van

-

Then he gave a flash of his glass green eyes

And the signal went all clear!

They'd be off at last for the northern part

Of the Northern Hemisphere!

-

Skimbleshanks the railway cat!

The cat of the railway train!

-

You could say that by and large it was me who was in charge

Of the sleeping car express

From the driver and the guards

To the bagmen playing cards

I'd supervise them all

More or less

-

Down the corridor he paces

And examines all the faces

Of the travelers in the first and the third

He establishes control by a regular patrol

And he'd know at once if anything occurred

-

He could watch you without winking

And he saw what you were thinking

And it's certain that he didn't approve

Of hilarity and riot, so the folk were very quiet

When Skimble was about and on the move

-

You could play no pranks with Skimbleshanks

He's a cat that cannot be ignored

So nothing went wrong on the Northern Mail

When Skimbleshanks was aboard!

-

It was very pleasant when they found their little den

With their name written up on the door

And the berth was very neat, with a newly folded sheet

And not a speck of dust on floor

-

There was every sort of light

You could make it dark or bright

And a button you could turn to make a breeze

And a funny little basin you're supposed to wash your face in

And a crank to shut the window should you sneeze

-

Then the guard looked in politely

And would ask you very brightly

"Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?"

But I was just behind him and was ready to remind him

That Skimble won't let anything go wrong!

-

When they crept into their cosy berths and pulled down the counterpane

They all could reflect it was very nice

To know that they wouldn't be bothered by mice

They could leave all that to the railway cat

The cat of the railway train!

-

Skimbleshanks, the railway cat!

The cat of the railway train!

Skimbleshanks, the railway cat!

The cat of the railway train!

-

In the watches of the night I was always fresh and bright

Every now and then I'd have a cup of tea

With perhaps a drop of scotch

When I was keeping on the watch

Only stopping here and there to catch a flea

-

They were fast asleep at crew and so they never knew

That I was walking up and down the station

They were sleeping all the while

I was busy at Carlisle

Where I met the station master with elation

-

They might see me at Dumfries if I summon the police

If there was anything they ought to know about!

When they got to Gallo gate, there they did not have to wait

For Skimbleshanks will help them to get out!

-

And he gives you a wave of his long brown tail

And says "I'll see you again"

You will meet without fail on the Midnight Mail,

The cat of the railway train!

-

The cat of the railway train!