I noticed a train stopped on the tracks this morning. It had three engines. I wondered how long a train has to be or how much it has to carry to merit all that. I’ve seen two engines before, but I’ve never seen three.
The first two engines were not black. Why does this matter? Well, engines have always been black, at least all the engines I’ve ever seen. I’m used to it. It’s familiar. Classic black. I don’t like for things to change – not things like that.
Modern engines, even the classic black ones, don’t hold the same appeal as an old steam engine. Ah, there’s just something about them.
This has now gotten me to thinking it’s once again time to watch Back to the Future. I loved the use of trains in that. Lots of fun.
I am reminded of when they stopped putting a caboose at the end of every train. I’m still annoyed over that. A train should have a caboose. It just should. And it must be red. Red is the traditional color.
I realize that some might feel a more pragmatic view should be in order; however, while I realize that the purpose once served by a caboose no longer exists, the fact is that I like to see a caboose at the end of a train. It makes me smile.
There’s something about trains that fuels the imagination. Whether it’s the concept of a hobo hiding in an open boxcar, wondering what it would be like to drive the train, or simply wondering if you might be able to get the engineer to wave, it’s just plain fun. Riding on a train is an adventure.
On one occasion within the past few years, I did get the engineer to wave from the train. It made my day.
I have observed within recent times that there is still the occasional open boxcar. I have often wondered why they are left open. Perhaps they are particularly onerous to close? It seems to me like it would be a safety issue. Ah, but there’s something fun about seeing them. There are times I’ve seen the train go so slowly through town that I could have jumped out of my car and caught up with it in just a short run. Whether I would be able to “board the train,” I don’t know. I have never tried. Some things are better left to the imagination.
I like to think about when I was younger and enjoyed reading the series called The Boxcar Children, especially the first book. Trains equal adventure, at least in my book. I have taken short daytrips on trains; however, only once did I take a long trip. My father and I rode an Amtrak from Birmingham to New Orleans. After about a week, we rode it back. It took about seven hours each way. Several stops were involved.
Although it wasn’t like the more “traditional” trains I’m used to seeing pass through my town, I couldn’t help but feel I was part of a proud tradition.
I remember that it was a bit difficult to walk at length through the train, at least at first. I imagine it was the equivalent of “getting your sea legs.” After a bit of practice, though, walking came easier.
If you’ve never taken a train trip, I urge you to try it. There’s something special about it. In a day and age when things tend to be done always in a hurry, trains cause us to think back to “simpler” times, to pause a moment and reflect.
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