“Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat” by T.S.

Eliot is
a poem from Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of
Practical Cats.
“Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat” is a
lighthearted and playful poem that celebrates
the world of cats and their unique personalities.
Skimbleshanks is a cat who lives and works on a
Night Mail train. The cat takes his job seriously
and ensures the smooth running of the train,
showcasing the value everyday actions can
have.
Trivia – T.S. Eliot was a ‘cat man’. He owned
many during his life and fondly gave them
unusual names like Skimbleshanks,
Jennyanydots, Growltiger, Gilbert, Rum Tum
Tugger, Macavity, Gus etc. He wrote many cat
poems describing the personality of cats and
their human counterparts.
There’s a whisper down the line at 11.39
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.”

Word Meaning:
whisper: murmur
thimble: a small pitted cup worn on the finger that protects it from
being pricked or poked by a needle while sewing.

Explanation:
The first stanza tells us something important is about to happen. The train,
called the Night Mail, is all set to leave but Skimble, who seems to be an
important person, is missing. The train literally cannot depart without him.
The question “has he gone to hunt the thimble?” is a humorous way of
expressing concern. A thimble is a small sewing tool, unlikely to be something
Skimble would be looking for, so it hints that he might be distracted or simply
not where he should be
All the guards and all the porters and the stationmaster’s
daughters
They are searching high and low,
Saying “Skimble where is Skimble for unless he’s very
nimble
Then the Night Mail just can’t go.”

Word Meaning
high and low: at all places
nimble: moving with ease; agile Explanation:
A large number of people involved in the search:
•Guards: They are responsible for the safety and
security of the train.
•Porters: They help passengers with luggage and
boarding.
•Stationmaster’s daughters: This detail suggests
everyone available is coming forward to help find
Skimbleshanks.
They are looking everywhere they can think of to find
Skimble as Skimble’s absence is a major obstacle to the
train’s departure. The night mail cannot travel unless
Skimble is moving in it.
At 11.42 then the signal’s nearly due
And the passengers are frantic to a man –
Then Skimble will appear and he’ll saunter to the rear:
He’s been busy in the luggage van!

Word Meaning:
frantic: quite restless
saunter: walk in a slow, relaxed way
the rear: backside

Explanation:
At 11.42 the railway signal is due to which everybody is
worried and restless. “To a man” is an idiom meaning
“including everyone” (in this case, all the passengers).
Then, Skimbleshanks appeared just in time and walked
to the back of the train. He had been occupied with a
task at the luggage van.
He gives one flash of his glass-green eyes
And the signal goes “All Clear!”
And we’re off at last for the northern part
Of the Northern Hemisphere!

Explanation:
With a simple action, Skimbleshanks ensures the train’s
departure on time. The flash could be Skimbleshanks’
way of signifying that whatever he was doing in the
luggage van is complete. “All Clear!” indicates the signal
has changed, now allowing the train to proceed. The
delay is over and the train is finally moving. The train is
set to travel a vast distance, to the northernmost part
of the Northern Hemisphere.
You may say that by and large it is Skimble who’s in charge
Of the Sleeping Car Express.
From the driver and the guards to the bagmen playing
cards
He will supervise them all, more or less.
Down the corridor he paces and examines all the faces
Word Meaning:
Of the travellers in the First and the Third;
patrol: act of going around an area to see if everything
He establishes control by a regular patrol
is fine
And he’d know at once if anything occurred.
Explanation:
Skimbleshanks holds a position of authority. It’s not an
official position but a generally accepted fact.
Skimbleshanks supervises and keeps an eye on the
driver, guards and bagmen.
“Sleeping Car Express” implies a luxurious train with
compartments for passengers to sleep, hinting at a
comfortable and smooth journey. Skimbleshanks is
vigilant and patrols around and also observes the
passengers in all the compartments.
Skimbleshanks has an almost supernatural awareness
of everything happening on the train.
He will watch you without winking and he sees what you
are thinking
And it’s certain that he doesn’t approve
Of hilarity and riot, so the folk are very quiet
When Skimble is about and on the move.
You can play no pranks with Skimbleshanks!
He’s a Cat that cannot be ignored;
So nothing goes wrong on the Northern Mail
When Skimbleshanks is aboard.

Word Meaning:
folk: here, folk refers to people aboard the train
hilarity: amusement involving noisy laughter
pranks: tricks
riot: unbecoming behaviour /chaos
Explanation:
Skimbleshanks is very serious about his work. He
stares intently at everyone and he can read minds as
well. Everyone is quiet when Skimbleshanks is on his
rounds because he does not accept tricky behaviour.
Nobody dares to play pranks on him. Due to the
watchful nature of Skimbleshanks, nothing could go
wrong on the train when he is aboard.
Oh, it’s very pleasant when you Word Meaning:
have found your little den den: small cabin
With your name written up on berth: a seat to sleep
the door. speck: a tiny spot
And the berth is very neat with a crank: a bar and handle in the shape of I that you can pull or
newly folded sheet turn
And there’s not a speck of dust
on the floor. Explanation:
There is every sort of light-you This stanza focuses on the passenger’s experience and the
can make it dark or bright; comfort provided by the train compartment.
There’s a handle that you turn It is an absolute pleasure for the passengers to enter the train
to make a breeze. compartment bearing their name. The berth is neat with a
There’s a funny little basin you’re freshly folded clean sheet.
supposed to wash your face in The train has all kinds of facilities- a handle to open the window
And a crank to shut the window to let the air in, a basin to wash your face and a handle to shut
if you sneeze. the window if you find the breeze too cold that makes you
sneeze.
A vivid picture of a well-appointed and comfortable train
compartment is painted by details like personalized names,
clean bedding, adjustable lighting highlights the luxurious
nature of the Sleeping Car Express.
Then the guard looks in politely and will ask you very creep into: move softly
brightly cosy: comfortable
“Do you like your morning tea weak or strong?” reflect: think
But Skimble’s just behind him and was ready to remind bothered: troubled
him, counterpane: a bedspread
For Skimble won’t let anything go wrong.
And when you creep into your cosy berth Explanation:
And pull up the counterpane, When passengers were settling in, a guard would come
You ought to reflect that it’s very nice to ask how they would like their morning tea- weak or
To know that you won’t be bothered by mice – strong. Skimble would be right behind the guard to
You can leave all that to the Railway Cat, ensure that he gets the passengers morning tea as per
The Cat of the Railway Train! their liking because if the guard forgets, Skimble could
remind him.
As passengers pull off the bedspread to sleep in their
cosy berth, they can be assured that there would be no
mice under their bed, all thanks to the railway cat. Thus
with Skimble around, nothing could go wrong.

Overall, the stanza emphasizes passenger comfort and

subtly connects it to Skimbleshanks’ presence. The
humor lies in his self-importance and the implication
that even small details like tea service fall under his
watchful eye. The readers have a sense of security and
appreciation for Skimbleshanks’ unique role on the
 This stanza portrays Skimbleshanks’ dedication and
In the watches of the night he is always fresh and bright;
tireless work ethic throughout the night, using some
Every now and then he has a cup of tea
interesting imagery and humor.
With perhaps a drop of Scotch while he’s keeping on the
Skimble is alert and fresh. This is because he has tea,
watch,
possibly with a shot of alcohol. He only stops to catch a
Only stopping here and there to catch a flea.
stray flea on the train.
You were fast asleep at Crewe and so you never knew
While all passengers on board are fast asleep, Skimble
That he was walking up and down the station;
inspects the station at Crewe, happily greets the
You were sleeping all the while he was busy at Carlisle,
stationmaster at Carlisle and inquiries after policemen
Where he greets the stationmaster with elation.
at Dumfries.
But you saw him at Dumfries, where he speaks to the
police
Overall, the stanza paints a picture of Skimbleshanks as
a dedicated and vigilant protector. He remains alert
Word Meaning:
and active throughout the night, taking small breaks for
flea: a blood-sucking insect
refreshments and personal needs. The contrast
elation: excited cheerfulness
between the passengers’ sleep and his activity
emphasises his unseen contribution to the smooth
running of the train journey.
If there’s anything they ought to know about:
When you get to Gallowgate there you do not have to wait
–
Word Meaning:
For Skimbleshanks will help you to get out!
wave: movement to say or suggest something
He gives you a wave of his long brown tail
Which says: “I’ll see you again!
Explanation:
You’ll meet without fail on the Midnight Mail
When the train finally stops at Gallowgate, Skimble
The Cat of the Railway Train.”
helps the passengers to get off the train. He waves his
long brown tail to bid farewell to the passengers. His
tail appears to say till we meet again and you are sure
to meet the railway cat aboard the Midnight Mail on
your next journey.

Overall, this stanza creates a sense of a bond or

connection between Skimbleshanks and the passenger.
It leaves the reader with a positive and memorable
impression of the cat and his role on the train. The
poem ends by emphasizing the cyclical nature of the
journey and the possibility of future encounters with
Skimbleshanks, the ever-present guardian of the
Midnight Mail.
Title Analysis of the Poem Skimbleshanks: The
Railway Cat

The title effectively introduces the poem’s main

character and establishes the backdrop of the cat being
a railway cat. Skimbleshanks is an unusual name for a
cat and the image of a “railway cat” invites the reader to
approach the poem with a sense of wonder and
amusement.

By placing Skimbleshanks’ name first, the title

emphasizes his importance as the central character.
The title clarifies that the poem is about a cat named
Skimbleshanks and its connection to the railway. It sets
the stage for a story that unfolds within the world of
trains and travel.
Hence, the title of the poem is apt.
 Poetic Devices in Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat

1.Alliteration – the repetition of a consonant sound at 2.Imagery

the start of closely placed words. It refers to the words and phrases used to help the
“He will watch you without winking and he sees what you reader form images that focus on their sense of smell,
are thinking” touch, sight, hearing and taste.
“Saying “Skimble where is Skimble for unless he’s very
nimble” The poem provides vivid details through descriptive
language “newly folded sheet” creating a sense of
comfort and cleanliness.

“And the berth is very neat with a newly folded sheet

And there’s not a speck of dust on the floor.”

Another visual imagery in the poem is when

Skimbleshanks’ eyes are described as green like the
green signal of the train. He flashes his eyes and the
signal mimics the colour of his eyes.

“He gives one flash of his glass-green eyes

And the signal goes “All Clear!”
 5.Personification
3.Hyperbole To personify is to give an animal or inanimate object human
Hyperbole refers to exaggeration. traits.
In the poem, Skimbleshanks is described as a human being. He
“And we’re off at last for the northern part is a figure of great importance in the train’s operation.
Of the Northern Hemisphere!” Skimbleshanks is shown “greeting the stationmaster” and
“speaking to the police,” giving him human-like qualities that
The northern part of the Northern showcase his role as an unofficial guardian.
Hemisphere is the North Pole. This is an
exaggeration and implies that the train goes “Where he greets the stationmaster with elation.
to the northernmost part of Britain. But you saw him at Dumfries, where he speaks to the police”
4.Metaphor When the guard asks the passengers about his preference of
“In the watches of the night he is always tea,
fresh and bright” uses a metaphor to …..But Skimble’s just behind him and was ready to remind him
describe Skimbleshanks’ alertness so that the guard does not forget the passenger’s preference and
throughout the night. the passengers have a good travel experience.

Skimbleshanks is described with human actions and behaviors

again-
“he has a cup of tea
With perhaps a drop of Scotch”
He drinks tea, when he keeps watch, greets the stationmaster,
and speaks to the police. This makes him seem more important
and in charge.