the_traveler
Engineer
I hope there's an engineer aboard the train too!
Best Part of the trip is ......................
- Thread starter Gingee
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The first hour after boarding a sleeper on an on-time long distance train.
I really enjoy planning a week to two week vacation on rails, looking at the timetables, seeing where we will be or should be, planning the layovers, where we will stay, what we will do, and finally boarding the train, kicking back, relaxing as the train pulls out of the station, and watching the countryside roll by. I also enjoy hearing others ***** and moan about late trains, like I always tell people, if you absolutely ,positively have to be there on time, maybe train travel isn't for you.
Pastor Dave
Lead Service Attendant
That would be disappointing..... :angry2:Unless you hear the "All Aboard" call from the outside of train - and see the trailing lights fade into the distance!
BEST part of the trip is... The People
Aloha
Aloha
Oops, sorry. That might have been me. :wub: :wub:
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Reflecting. Reflecting on "how it once was" during the hey-day or golden age of train travel. Wondering where that abandoned spur went? Imagining how many express trains, and milk runs once rolled down the very same route I'm now riding on.
Trying to visualize what the small town and burgs were like when the train came to town, and didn't just rush past. Thinking about all the kids, families, soldiers, and relatives who have said their goodbyes, and also welcomed home, loved ones. Dreaming of what it must have been like to ride this route (pick almost any current route) when one had a choice of five or six trains to choose from, from different carriers.
Listening to the (sometimes real, sometimes imagined) clickity-clack of the wheels as they try their best to climb the rails to freedom, the hard CLANG as the wheels slams into a switch-point, or cross a diamond. The smell of the brake shoes wearing away, slowing down the massive silver bullet prior to screeching to a slow stop at some tiny station, picking up a lonely traveler.
The whisk of the rushing air in the night, as I stand in the lower level of a superliner, with the door-window opened. The view of all the green running lights, changing color. The oncoming signal or position lights seemingly rushing towards you, waiting, waiting, waiting for them to change from green to red......
The WHOOSH and feeling of the air in your room being sucked out as an approaching train passes on an adjacent track. The smell of creosote as the train creeps past a pile of brand new ties, waiting to be installed after you pass.
Waving to the kids and families who instinctively wave at the train. Propping up all the pillows in the room on your bed, so you can watch the outside world rush by, as you sip on a glass of Cabernet.
Breakfast in the diner, with the sun just beginning to rise, with a full cup of hot coffee, and the morning paper, grits and eggs on their way, the train at full speed.
The aroma of the brake shoes, wearing away little by little, doing their job, to slow the train as we round a curve, or descend a grade.
The satisfaction of knowing " how good you have it" while their are millions of poor saps squished into tight seats flying above you somewhere......
The camaraderie of new friends met in the lounge or dome car, stories told, tales wound. Listening. Watching. Observing. Wondering. People.
The time to just " chill" away from work, phones, and if you want, Internet.
America. All of it, as you glide bye on your journey to wherever. Looking into people's backyards and kitchens. Watching them BBQ at the grill, or play baseball in the parks. Wondering if they are thinking about " wouldn't it be nice to be on that train?
The Doppler effect of the sound of the horns of oncoming trains. The melodic sound of your own train's horn as it warns approaching motorist to stop.
Meh, I guess there isn't much I like about train travel........
Trying to visualize what the small town and burgs were like when the train came to town, and didn't just rush past. Thinking about all the kids, families, soldiers, and relatives who have said their goodbyes, and also welcomed home, loved ones. Dreaming of what it must have been like to ride this route (pick almost any current route) when one had a choice of five or six trains to choose from, from different carriers.
Listening to the (sometimes real, sometimes imagined) clickity-clack of the wheels as they try their best to climb the rails to freedom, the hard CLANG as the wheels slams into a switch-point, or cross a diamond. The smell of the brake shoes wearing away, slowing down the massive silver bullet prior to screeching to a slow stop at some tiny station, picking up a lonely traveler.
The whisk of the rushing air in the night, as I stand in the lower level of a superliner, with the door-window opened. The view of all the green running lights, changing color. The oncoming signal or position lights seemingly rushing towards you, waiting, waiting, waiting for them to change from green to red......
The WHOOSH and feeling of the air in your room being sucked out as an approaching train passes on an adjacent track. The smell of creosote as the train creeps past a pile of brand new ties, waiting to be installed after you pass.
Waving to the kids and families who instinctively wave at the train. Propping up all the pillows in the room on your bed, so you can watch the outside world rush by, as you sip on a glass of Cabernet.
Breakfast in the diner, with the sun just beginning to rise, with a full cup of hot coffee, and the morning paper, grits and eggs on their way, the train at full speed.
The aroma of the brake shoes, wearing away little by little, doing their job, to slow the train as we round a curve, or descend a grade.
The satisfaction of knowing " how good you have it" while their are millions of poor saps squished into tight seats flying above you somewhere......
The camaraderie of new friends met in the lounge or dome car, stories told, tales wound. Listening. Watching. Observing. Wondering. People.
The time to just " chill" away from work, phones, and if you want, Internet.
America. All of it, as you glide bye on your journey to wherever. Looking into people's backyards and kitchens. Watching them BBQ at the grill, or play baseball in the parks. Wondering if they are thinking about " wouldn't it be nice to be on that train?
The Doppler effect of the sound of the horns of oncoming trains. The melodic sound of your own train's horn as it warns approaching motorist to stop.
Meh, I guess there isn't much I like about train travel........
Last edited by a moderator:
MikefromCrete
Engineer
Beautiful, Dude
After I told my husband about all the replies he told me to add that the food has always been good on the train. I think he did mean the diner part because the first time we ate hamburgers in the cafe on the Cardinal, they were awful. This has to be good (the compliment about liking the train) because he is a person that always says "we can fly". Yuck Ya you get there quicker but oh well.
the_traveler
Engineer
"Layovers"?
I just get on a train, chose the longest way possible - and usually don't stop until I get back to where I started!
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