TRAINS

On the other side of the fairway behind the house is a railroad track (this makes me think of one of Vern's old jokes. How do you know if a train just went by. you can see his tracks). - I didn't say it was a good joke, just one of his old ones. In the morning,shortly after dawn, a train whistle bales it's mournful sound as it comes to a crossing somewhere along the route behind us. I love that sound. It makes me think of places to see and somewhere deep inside I get this feeling, I 'd like to hop on board and start a new adventure.

I grew up in a time when trains were the best way to travel - so glamourous! In movies of the time, a lot of action took place on trains. In dining cars, the hero and heroine traded 'snappy' dialogue to move the action along. And, of course, there usually was the obligatory scene in a stateroom or a made up bed in the Pullman car. Even my favorite genre of movies - Westerns - had train scenes usually involving a hold up or the villain in his luxurious private car.

When we were In Europe last spring, we took the train from Rome to Panicale and back and Mary and I took the train in London. I wish our government would invest more money in Rail Travel. The high speed trains we took, were clean, fun and fast.

The first "train" journey, I remember, was taking the Interurban between Peoria and Decatur. The Interurban was a series of trolleys that ran between our Hometown and other downstate cities. Judy and I don't remember who we went to see but only that Mom took us to get a permanent wave. Judy says all that she can remember is that the perm turned her hair blonde for several weeks. I recollect a trip that several friends took on The Peoria Rocket to Chicago to see a matinee and lunch at Berghoff's Restaurant. Vern's Uncle Bob was a Conductor on that train. One time I asked another conductor if he knew him. He answered yes and asked me if I knew Bob was a Nudist.....but, that's another story.

I love traveling by train. Vern and I traveled that way several times. The first time we went West, we went by Coach. After that, we got a roomette. The thing about seeing the Country this way is that there are places where the tracks go that are inaccessible by auto. Some tracks were laid before roads were built. Another thing we like about trains is that on most Routes, someone from a local Historical Society will get on board and tell the happenings in a certain area. We have heard about the Donner Party as we traveled through snow melting mountains one Spring in Northern California. We heard about The Louis and Clark Expedition twice, each guide telling their versions. On a ride down the coast of California, a Magician Was on board to entertain.

Love, love, love traveling by train. I am looking forward to my next Rail adventure which, by the way, has already been set in (loco) motion!