Train Adventure posted 11/4/2009 1:17:38 AM | 0 kudos what's this?     report abuse

sybnann

I miss the old passenger trains. You know.. the Northern Pacific and Southern Pacific for example.

When I was just eight years old, I was fortunate enough to take a trip with my sister and mother on the Southern Pacific railroad across this great country. We started in New Jersey and completed our journey in Portland, Oregon.

It is true.. what is said about the joy being in the journey, not arriving at the destination. I had never ridden a train before and just climbing on it was a thrill. The seats were simple and did recline a little and we had to sleep in them, as we could not afford the sleeping car. I didn't care. It was an adventure to me anyway.

We had been told the trip would take four days, if there were no delays or anything. First thing I wanted to do as we pulled out of the station, was to explore! My sister and I walked back and forth, from our car to the lounge car, then the cafeteria car, and the observatory car. The lounge car was even fun for kids because there was someone always there, to sell even candy and soda to children.

The cafeteria car was SO cool. The tables were elegantly set, the curtains had lace trim, and the food proved to be quite good too, although expensive. It was not open however until evening. In the mean time, a nice man came around selling sandwiches, fruit, milk, and cookies.

That first night as every night thereafter, we ended up in that dome car (observatory). The roof was glass and seeing the stars like I have never quite seen them before or after, is unexplainable. All I had seen of the sky until then was foggy, cloudy, or shadowed by so many lights of the city.

There were a few lengthy stops along the way and some delays too. We stopped at the train station in Chicago, and if you have NEVER been there, I SO suggest seeing it.
It may have simply been the wonderment of a child, but to me it was SO beautiful, romantic, and had a charm all its own. There were marble columns and very large areas to lounge around on furniture that was classic. You could talk without your neighbor hearing you, and read in peace.

I always had a fascination with restrooms when I was a child, lol. so I just had to go check that out too. Until this day, I have never seen anything like it! There was only one thing.... there were three types of stalls, and each required money to get in to them, and I had to go back out to get some. they ranged from a nickel to a whole quarter. I had to use a quarter to see what was in that stall, lol, and it had a toilet, a sink, towels, a mirror, and a table!!! Amazing!!!!!!!

It ended up taking six days instead of four, bacause of issues with the train and delays with connecting trains, but we finally made it. I just wish the trains today had the same charm as the ones years ago, BUT I will always have the memory of that trip.... and the joy that it brought to me.

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