December 2004
The weather conditions were icy as I drove into work this morning. I pull into the parking lot and pause to watch the fast moving train leaving the Miquon station opposite our offices. And I couldn’t help but wish I were on it. To a destination unknown. Far away from the pressures of day today life.
The weather conditions were icy as I drove into work this morning. I pull into the parking lot and pause to watch the fast moving train leaving the Miquon station opposite our offices. And I couldn’t help but wish I were on it. To a destination unknown. Far away from the pressures of day today life.
It was such a wonderful site. Speed, power and class combined. That's how I always think of trains. Sleek and majestic. It's my favorite mode of man made transportation. To travel. I always think to myself, "If a train could take me round the world, wouldn’t that be great?"
I have traveled far and wide over the last few years. I have moved more as a kid than a lot of other people in my generation. I hated it then. These days I love to travel, maybe I should say, I love to see new places, experience different cultures. But I always dread the journey, especially if I don’t have control over the vehicle of transportation. I always fear travel sickness whether it's a bus ride, or a road trip in a car or a short flight. I couldn’t wait to get to the other end, it wasn’t fast enough. Except for trains.
Yes, with trains, it has always been a joy. I love traveling in them. I look forward to the journey, whenever I get to take a train. It's the only mode of transportation that I have ever felt safe in. No travel sickness, no worries. Pure pleasure. I could relax and enjoy the ride. And the destination always reaches, too soon. I could do it all over again. That's the feeling I get, every single time I take a train.
Trains bring back lots of childhood memories, all those trips to meet the family during the summer holidays. I used to love the motions of those steam engines that rocked me to sleep. I loved the music that I hear as the wheels turn, as it speeds past the rivers and the fields. “Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo-cuckoo….”, so melodious, so sweet! I remember plastering my face to the windows where the wind could touch my face, where I could see the length of the train front and back, as it took a bend or a sharp curve. Beautiful, I always thought. Those old rickety trains that went “Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo-cuckoo….”
Those journeys come back to me like an old movie. And some new. So much fun, so exciting. Another day, another life, another memory long forgotten. Sitting in my car, outside work, nostalgia encloses me like a cloak. For some reason, I also feel rejuvenated this Monday morning. Thanks to the electric train from Miquon that brought it all back.
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In response to the prompt from 3WW
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22 comments:
How Fun....a trip down memory lane!!
Happy 3WW.
charles
To a destination unknown. Love that
Love trains. Wish there were more of them here
I too love travelling by trains. Wish I could do that more often.
i have never to this date been on a train ride... i think that is something i need to get busy and do... this was lovely.....
Trains are wonderful and magical at the same time.
Rose
xo
Nice recollection! I took only one train trip and I still remember every second of it (I think) and it was decades ago. Good post!
Having never been caught up in the magic of trains... reading your post made me really get it. Very nice!
~S
I frequently want to get on a train (or plane or in my car, etc.) and head to a destination unknown :)
When I was a kid a railway line ran past the bottom of my garden.It ran from Eastbourne and linked all the tiny villages along the way providing a lifeline for the rural folk.It was known as the Cuckoo Line. As children our favourite game was to put halfpennies on the track and when the engine ran over them it would flatten them to the size of a penny! The ones we recovered fitted into the penny bubble gum machine down the road! I can still see in my mind the trains trudging up the steep inclne belching out black smoke and orange sparks.
When everyone got cars the track closed.
Today it one of the most popular walks, bridle ways and cycle trails in the South and it's known as the Cuckoo Trail If you are interested its here http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/countryside/walks/cuckootrail/
Oh by the way - I've done 'my seven' although I have strayed fronm the rules somewhat!!!
A pleasant read.
When I read "I love travelling in them", the keyword being in. I thought of it as a travelling through imagination inside a travelling train.
I've only been on a train at a train museum, went quite slow through town and up to the falls and back... I loved it. It was nice to read your memories.
What a fun read. I love taking train rides from Seattle. Either south down to Portland, or up north to Vancouver, BC. Very scenic in either direction.
Memories...........
Sigh!
Oh I agree - train travel is the best. Nice write - romantic! Wind in the hair and no travel sickness
love the image of you as a child with your face pressed against the glass. beautiful story.
( want to let you know I did your tag! thanks again) :))
What a timely post to read UL. The title of my blog is directly born of my train-riding experiences.
Also - So glad you enjoyed my random meme from several months ago. Japanese horror flicks are such a hoot and really, really creepy. Sometimes a series will come on our premium channels one after another. I get lost in them.
What wonderful memories...thank you for sharing. I've never taken a trip on a train, but would love to do it someday!
I share your enthusiasm for trains and really enjoyed your post! You totally brought it to life and I could see the countryside whooshing by. And I love the cuckoo-cuckoo sound you described!
:)
I've never been on a real train, but it does seem like you'd get to see so much more of the countryside than speeding down the interstate in a car.
Loved this part: "I remember plastering my face to the windows where the wind could touch my face, where I could see the length of the train front and back, as it took a bend or a sharp curve."
So beautiful and vivid.
I'm like you - I enjoy going to new places and meeting different people. I've always wanted to take a train through the Canadian Rockies, or the Orient Express. The trains in Europe are so convenient.
I'm always enjoy train stories, thanks!
My dad retired recently from C&O railroad. He was an engineer. And, if he knew some of the rides I have taken on the train, he would be really mad. But, on the flip side, I haven't been on the inside of a passenger train and would love to take a ride somewhere. I loved your post. Thanks for sharing something so personal from your diary. Keep up the good work.
Have a nice night.
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