You may think I’m just old and sentimental, but I miss the caboose on trains! Does anyone else miss the caboose being on the back of the train??? LOL!!! When I was a kid I liked having to wait at railroad crossings for a train because the man in the caboose would always wave at me! Even trains used to be more friendly than they are now… sigh.
We all know the effect that everyday stress has on our health. Maybe it’s time for a nice vacation. When was the last time you took a trip – on a train??? We’re going! Get your bags packed! Today is NATIONAL TRAIN DAY!!!
Often we think of other modes of transportation and embrace them, but rarely do we consider getting to our destination by train. I enjoy watching old movies and some of my favorites include trips by rail. Movies such as The Train, The Grey Fox, The General, and The Lady Vanishes have extensive scenes that include trains. I think Agatha Christie’s Murder on The Orient Express is one of my favorite movies. I would love to ride The Orient Express one day. Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train is a movie I enjoy as well.
There’s a certain ambience on a train ride. It’s so romantic and relaxing. But with 3 kids along? Yeah – maybe not. Here’s a 14 hour train ride… with 3 kids. I think at one point they’re asking, “Are we THERE yet???” Hey – I would be! Check out the foliage as they travel west – it’s really pretty in October!
My husband and I have taken a couple of short day trips on trains. It was just enough to make me want to go on a longer trip. For our 20th wedding anniversary we rode a dinner train from Branson, MO across the AR state line and back. We also rode a train in Abilene, KS one afternoon a few years ago.
Now I’m ready for my long trip! I have a friend who regularly travels by rail . She thinks I am just as crazy as can be for wanting to take a trip by train. I don’t care. I’ve been called worse.
If you’ve seen the movie Strangers on a Train, you’ll know that it’s not a good idea to get too friendly with anyone else. No, I’d play it safe and just talk with my husband.
Here in Kansas we are in real danger because our Amtrak line does not generate enough to maintain the tracks. Basically, if we don’t start using the train, we could lose our line completely. That would be a crying shame. We have to go to Newton, KS to begin our journey. That is about 20 miles north of Wichita. It’s a small inconvenience really. I hope more Kansans will choose the train to get where they want to go.
Let’s go to Italy and ride this new train!
I’ve always been fascinated with trains and hope to take a nice long train ride one day. I hope you will do the same. 😀
HEART HUNGER 
I took a train ride when I was 6, not long after my diabetes diagnosis. My mother and I were going to see my aunt, uncle and two first cousins. My oldest cousin is one year younger than me. He still remembers that visit, and how I hated being given shots of insulin on my skinny legs. When I applied for the Joslin 50 year medal I needed proof of my year of diagnosis. My parents, uncles and aunts are deceased. My cousin wrote a letter telling what he remembered from that visit. That letter and one from my sister enabled me to get the medal. Two letters were required. If we had not taken that train ride I would not have been eligible for the medal. I will always remember that train ride! The Joslin medal and all that it entitles me to do means very much to me.
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Your comment made me think of another photo I have. My first field trip in school was a train ride! I was 5. I’ve been interested in trains ever since! I wish they would bring back more passenger trains – especially with the price of gas going up!
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