Trainmen

I remember standing by the train tracks as a little girl, counting the box cars as they chugged by, waiting to cross to the park and beach on the other side. All 7 of us (5 kids and two adults) would pick a spot where we'd count the cars so we wouldn't count them twice.

The high point, of course, was the caboose and the conductor or brakeman waving at us. We were in heaven when we were acknowledged. It was disappointing on those occasions when we'd be completely ignored.

I've loved trains ever since I can remember. I have no idea why, I just do. I didn't find out until a couple of years ago that my grandfather (who died when my Dad was in his teens and I never knew), worked as a bridge foreman for the Kettle Valley Railway and worked on the trestles near where I live now. That's one of my goals this year, to ride the old rail trail on my bike.

On Christmas Eve, after I picked Mom up to bring her to my house, we detoured to where the old mill is located along a dike, dissected by the railway tracks. I didn't attempt to take a photo as I was too late to get my camera set up, so we just sat and watched the train. The light was fading as the engine approached, and would have been directly on my windshield, making it difficult for us to see the engineer.

Regardless, I waved while sitting in the car, not expecting response. To my surprise and the delight of both Mom and I, the engineer tooted his horn twice in acknowledgement. We both felt like little kids again and for some reason, it really made our Christmas Eve.

Yesterday, I was out at the same place, and sure enough I could hear a train approaching. Again, not having time to set my camera up on a tripod, I figured I'd just wing it and hope for the best. As the train passed me, the engineer had his arm out the window waving at me. Unfortunately, the photo didn't turn out, but the engineer still made my day. The simple pleasures of life.

The small community I live in was a train stop decades ago, although we're lucky the CP Holiday train still stops here on it's annual run. The tracks run a couple of blocks from my house and I love hearing the rumble of the trains at night as they clack through town. One of my most popular photos in this community last year was of the red CP train engine coming towards me through fall foliage.

Obviously, I'm not the only one that loves trains. Perhaps it's in one's DNA and Grandpa passed it along. Who knows? I just hope I never lose the sense of delight I feel at seeing one.
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Comments (18)

I'm another who loves trains, especially train travel, I don't there's a more relaxing way to experience a place . I've fond memories of my travels through India by train, propped up by pillows near the window, watching the landscape change as we crossed the country.. It took us two full days to travel from the southern tip of India to New Delhi on one trip which is something I'd like to do again.
I live near a preserved steam railway and spend most Saturdays helping restore/rebuild this 1929 built coach.
They have turned many disused railway lines here into walking/cycling routes.
They are great off-road trails.
All that hiking and walking you do Molly must be good for your caboose.
Exercise is good for everybody, TR wink
'many times the wrong train took me to the right place'. .

I do use the train regularly (TGV is pretty good ), and I find it fascinating, productive, and easy to go to wrong places.





wave
TR - I haven't travelled on a train since I was in my 20's. Apparently there's a deal in the summer here, where you can ride the train across Canada for a discounted rate one way, then fly back home. I'd love to do that! I'll have to look into it this year. :)
Countryside - what a great experience and how lucky you are to live so close to it! thumbs up
Socrates - that sums up and describes train travel perfectly! What a wonderful poem. Thanks for sharing it here. thumbs up
Molly - yes they've done the same here. They make fantastic cycling trails, imo. grin
haha Bogart - easy to go to wrong places. We don't have passenger trains much anymore, and definitely not for regular transit. We had better transit in 1920 than we do now. So there's not much chance of going to the wrong place.
Saw the french riviera from a train.my son works for the train.
Wow, Bluesky - what a great experience that must have been. I think it'd be a great way to see any country. Passenger trains are still very much used in Europe - unfortunately, not here. They ditched them for cars, and now complain about traffic. roll eyes
One scene I remember vividly is Hell's Gate Canyon as the train crossed the bridge over it.
It was pure liquid fury in action.

Socrates - yes, Hell's Gate is called that for a reason. That river (the Fraser) runs next to the town I live in, and no, you wouldn't want to fall in it at any time of year. The power and fury of the river is simply amazing. thumbs up
Socrates - Thanks for sharing the photo! I've never seen Mount Robson and would love to take a train through the Rockies. Sounds like you had a fantastic train trip. thumbs up
I can remember when I was small child and I used to walk up to a train track not too far from my home and count the boxcars as they went by.Sometimes I'd wave to the conductor as the train went slowly by.
Bearwoman - I don't know about you, but I remember that with great fondness. grin
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LadyImp

LadyImp

Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada

Not looking for anyone. Moving from an unmoderated site to this one, simply for blogging. Prince Charming fell off his horse into a pumpkin patch and is looking for shards of the glass slipper - frog who's good with tools preferred. Ribbit. [read more]

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created Jan 2019
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