THE DAY WE RAN AWAY
(Dave Goulder)

Well, good evening, everybody. I can see you've nowt to do,
So give me your attention and a tale I tell to you.
You'll never hear the like again till the cows come out to play.
I'll tell you all the story of the day we ran away.

CHORUS
Oh the day, the day, I'll never forget the day,
They'll pension off the pair of us on the day we ran away.

Well, I signed my card at nine o'clock and I went to find me mate.
His gear was on the tender and his billy was on the plate;
But if I'd known that it was Sidney, I'd have gone back home to stay.
They could find another stoker for the day we ran away. CHORUS

Well, we tidied up the engine and we started down the yard.
I swear the wheels were threepenny bits, she rattled us so hard.
Every joint was blowing steam. I couldn't see for spray;
And Sydney got a shovelful when his arse got in the way. CHORUS

We sorted out the wagons and we got her out on time.
We got the signal from the guard and we started down the line.
We hadn't gone a mile or two when I heard the driver say,
"I don't think she can hold them, lad. She's going to run away." CHORUS

Well, the coal fell off me shovel in a heap upon the floor.
I told him what I thought of him as I raced him for the door;
But the speed that we were going it took me breath away;
And if I'd 'a' fell, it's as sure as hell I'd be shoveling there today. CHORUS

So I wrestled with the tender brake with all my strength and skill.
The wheels they stopped a-turning and we skated down the hill.
Sydney threw her in reverse and I began to pray,
And the guard was having a baby on the day we ran away. CHORUS

And when we came to the junction, I was ready for the shock.
We hit the points. We danced about. I hardly dared to look.
But Sydney saw the signals. they were green uns all the way,
And as we hurtled through the station, well, I knew we'd won the day. CHORUS

And when we came to *********, we was jogging along so slow,
They put us in the sidings and the fire was burning low.
I fried our bacon on the shovel and the tea was on its way,
And we sat and blamed the guard for the day we ran away. CHORUS

Sorry can't remember the name of the Station but I don't suppose it matters which station you use in the last verse.

It was indeed written by Dave Goulder and can be found on his album Requiem for Steam

Geoff