We are pulled back to the present as "Skimbleshanks The Railway 
Cat" 
introduces himself. A friendly uncle to all of the cats, Skimbleshanks 

attends the trains he rides, and makes sure every detail is perfect. 
SOLO: 
Skimbleshanks the railway cat, the cat of the railway train 
There`s a whisper down the line at eleven thirty-nine 
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!" 

SKIMBLESHANKS: 
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster`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 eleven forty-two 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! 

ALL: 
Then he gave one 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 

SKIMBLESHANKS: 
You might 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 would supervise them all more or less 

ALL: 
Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces 
Of the travellers in the first and the third 
He established control by a regular patrol 
And he`d know at once if anything occurred 

He would 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 that folk were very quiet 
When Skimble was about and on the move 

You could play no pranks with Skimbleshanks 
He`s a cat that couldn`t be ignored 
So nothing went wrong on the northern mail 
When Skimbleshanks was aboard 

SKIMBLESHANKS: 
It was very pleasant when they`d found their little den 
With their name written up on the door 
And the berth was very neat with a newly folded sheet on 
And not a speck of dust on the 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 just behind him and was ready to remind him 
For Skimble won`t let anything go wrong 
When they crept into their cozy berth and pulled the counterpane 

They ought to reflect that it was very nice 
To know that they wouldn`t be bothered by mice 
They can leave all that to the railway cat 
The cat of the railway train 

ALL: 
Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, the cat of the railway train 

SKIMBLESHANKS: 
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 while I was busy keeping on the watch 

Only stopping here and there to catch a flea 

They were fast asleep at Crewe 
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 stationmaster with elation 

They might see me at Dumfries if I summoned the police 
If there was anything they ought to know about 
When they got to Gallowgate there they did not have to wait 
For Skimbleshanks will help them to get out 

ALL: 
And he gives you a wave of his long brown tail 
Which says, "I`ll see you again" 
You`ll meet without fail on the midnight mail 
The cat of the railway train 

You`ll meet without fail on the midnight mail 
The cat of the railway train