Written for Crispina’s Crimson’s Creative Challenge.
I chose Pic #3. Here’s where the image took me.

The marsh cattle didn’t even lift their heads when the 8:47 rattled past. They had long ago made their peace with it …. that brief, metallic interruption of an otherwise eternal silence.
Between Acle and Great Yarmouth, the land had never quite decided whether it belonged to water or earth. It simply lay there, flat and patient, breathing out a faint saltiness that mixed with the smell of wet grass and dung and distance.
The rails ran straight as a surveyor’s vision. On either side, the grazing stretched away into a wide, far off horizon. A heron stood motionless in the reed, indifferent to everything.
The train came, shook the air for thirty seconds, and was gone. The cattle chewed. The heron didn’t move. The grass resumed its quiet conversation with the wind.
NAR©2026
This is “Lonely Locomotives” by Dierks Bentley
Everything seen here was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

Beautiful post, Nancy.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Indira. Thank you very much.
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You’ve caught the nature of that marsh between the towns to perfection, as if you know the place as well if not better than I do. I am impressed. And all done with a poetic touch 🥰🥰🥰
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What a beautiful comment that is, Crispina; thank you! I seem to have nothing but time on my hands as I recuperate from surgery and I spend it doing research gathering little bits of info concerning the subjects I’m writing about. I can’t wait for my next game of Trivial Pursuit; I will astound my family with all my newfound smarts! 😂 Seriously, I’m so pleased to read your comments; you’ve made my day! 😌 😊
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It was like I was standing beside the track! Nice one, Nancy.
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Thanks for a lovely comment, dear Keith! ❤️🚂
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Love the imagery you created Nance simply stunning 🙌
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Crispina’s photography is always so inspiring! Thanks very much, Ange. ❤️ 🚂 🐮
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🙌
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So realistic. Natures creatures are so adaptable…
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We could learn a thing or two from them. Thanks, Jodi
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This was just lovely. Knock-out first line, too.
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You’ve seen them, I’m sure; you expect them to runoff in a panic, but they stand there, chewing, seemingly oblivious. Thank you, Lois, for an excellent comment! ❤️ 🚂 🐮
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I wonder what the grass and the wind were discussing.
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I can always count on you to take the topic to another level. Thanks very much for your thoughts, Jim.
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What a great story with stunning imagery, Nancy. I love the song.
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Thanks so very much, Eugi. It’s really a great image! 🩵 🚂 🎶
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You’re welcome, Nancy.
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I could just see and hear that. Another gem 🥰
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Thanks for a really beautiful comment, Esther. This image brought me back to another time and place. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. ❤️ 🚂
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I adored your story’s vivid imagery, which sounded very much like the Western Plains here in Victoria my friend …
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I’m so pleased to have given you something relatable, my dear friend. I am a big fan of anything to do with open planes and trains. 🩵 🚂 🎶
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My absolute pleasure, Nancy 🤗🥰🎶🌏
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Very cool story and great song.
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Woof woof, Ernie! I forgot about Dierks Bentley; he’s quite good, isn’t he? Thanks, my friend.
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I do like his music.
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A great story for this image Nancy
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Thanks so much, my dear Sadje
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♥️🙏🏼♥️
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great take this was a good one Nance! 😊😊🦋🦋🐦🐦🕊️🕊️
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Thanks so much, CA. I’m glad you enjoyed it! ❤️
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