The miniature railway after rain

Text: an original contemporary personal account-style practice extract.

Overnight rain had left shallow puddles beside the miniature railway, although the rails looked clear when I opened the shed. I pushed an empty carriage towards the first bend, where it stopped with a dull knock. A pine cone was lodged in the groove beside the rail. Once I had removed it, the carriage rolled forwards without difficulty.

Further along, wet leaves covered part of the platform and the wooden seats shone with water. I swept the leaves into a bucket while another volunteer dried the seats. By the time the first passengers arrived, the clouds had lifted and the little station looked ready for them.