Almost An Accident!

Big Tex Robbins was a blind engineer,
He drove the rails on the Santa Fe!
Tex couldn't see but that didn't matter,
On two rails he couldn't lose his way.

What Big Tex didn't know was coming west,
Riding those two rails straight at him!
Was small Mickey Finn running "Old Forty,"
His throttle wide open with a grin!

Big Tex was blind and he took no notice,
At a warning lantern being waved.
All Big Tex knew was he had to hurry,
He'd lost time that needed to be saved.

"Stoke that boiler Smokey," big Tex roared out,
"Give me all the steam you can make!"
Then the fireman screamed "There's a light ahead!"
And Big Tex the blindman hit the brakes!

Sand was spraying and the wheels were screaming,
As Tex brought the engine to a stop.
The fireman filled his pants and walked funny,
He'd paled with his eyes about to pop!

Old Forty had it's nose five feet away,
With Mickey leaning out with a grin.
"Hey there Mickey Finn," Big Tex hollered out,
"I didn't see you comin' my friend!"

"Sure and don't you know it?" Mickey called back,
"I never had a thought that you would!
Any damned fool knows a blind engineer,
Wouldn't see or notice if he could!"

Big Tex and small Mickey waved their good-byes,
And threw their engines into reverse.
They both backed clean back to their starting points,
Their night excursion "none for the worse!!"