Riding the rails still fascinates me

 

My adult daughter reminded this week that traveling by railroad remains a fascinating means of transportation.

She works with developmentally challenged adults. She and a few of her coworkers are leading a group of the adults they work with on a summer vacation that includes travel by Amtrak from Chicago to Colorado and then to Utah, before returning back to Chicago. My daughter emails me regular updates and photos from the journey, and these reports indicate everyone is enjoying a wonderful time.

Amtrak, I know, has its critics and much of their criticism of the rail service is accurate and well-founded, I think, but none of that is important to my daughter and the individuals she is supervising on the trip. 

They're too busy enjoying the views from Amtrak's touring cars, the unique experience of dining on a train, and the deep sleep they enjoy from being rocked to sleep by the motions of a moving train. That's what my daughter reports, and her pictures capture images that support every detail.

Her email reports make me happy. I've always enjoyed trains, and everything about them. I grew up near multiple rail lines that carried both commuter and freight traffic. 

My dad frequently took me and my younger siblings to sit and watch the trains travel through town. It always interested me to see the passing trains and wonder where they were headed, what freight they carried, and who were the people riding in those commuter cars? 

Several of my neighbors at that time were businessmen who rode the commuter trains to Chicago during the business week, and their routine fascinated me as I child. Going back and forth to the big city by train seemed exciting, and I thought each day must have held the promise of thrilling new adventure on the rails.

I can still recall my first ride on that commuter train, and my first ride on Chicago subway. I've always enjoyed reading the history of railroads in this country and elsewhere. 

I suppose Hollywood's depiction of railroads and what is widely considered the "golden era" of rail travel (the late 19^th century through the mid-1950s) fuels some of my interest. Wouldn't it be nice to travel in the luxury of the Orient Express or something similar, particularly after enduring modern air travel? 

I seldom need to ride a commuter train today, but still try to enjoy the experience when I do. It's been more than 40 years since I've traveled by Amtrak. What I recall most is that the seating was comfortable, the train departed on time, arrived on time, and delivered us all safely. All of that was important to be me then, and remains a top priority to me today. 

In her most recent note to me, my daughter encouraged me to plan a trip by Amtrak. I'll discuss that with Mrs. B. We might look at that for next summer. In the meantime, I'm glad my daughter and her travel companions are enjoying their time riding the rails across America.

And that's the way I see it. 

-- Thank you for reading, You comments and questions are always welcome.