“A private railroad car is not an acquired taste. One takes to it immediately.”
It’s finally raining, but the humidity is still horrific. Typing is even sweat producing. All I can imagine doing is lying languidly on a chaise lounge while eating bon bons. The paper says the weather will break in a couple of days. I hope so. This is the worst stretch of hot, humid weather I can remember.
I so love rain storms and dark rooms and the sound of the raindrops on the windows. I can hear a bird or two but no cars or people. The animals are asleep. The heat makes them drowsy and listless. Fern is stretched out across a couch pillow with her paws hanging. Gracie is in her crate. Maddie is upstairs asleep on the bed. My typing is the only sound in the house. I find the silence comforting.
Traffic was at a standstill in Hyannis. The gate was down, and the train was heading back to the station. I got to listen to the train whistle and watch the cars pass. It was like being a little kid again when the train ran every day. I remember putting a penny on the tracks and waiting for the train wheels to flatten it. The trains carried freight, never passengers. I liked the caboose most of all. The other cars were mostly black or brown. The caboose was always red.
I have a fascination with trains and love riding them. Sleepers are the most fun and hearing the clack of the wheels on the tracks is about the best way to fall asleep. I’ve slept on trains in Africa and Europe, in first class beds and on couchettes with six to a room.
If I could go back in time, I’d take the Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul. I’d dress for dinner every night and drink fine wine. I’d mingle with royalty, a few celebrities and hope for a spy or two. Nothing like a little intrigue to enliven a journey.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: railroad trains, rain
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
August 5, 2010 at 1:21 pm
I love going by train. It´s so fun to study the co-travellers during the trip. I usually fantasise about where they will travel, what they will do and what they might work with 🙂
I never dared to put a coin on the rails though, someone (probably my mother) had told me that they could derail then 🙂 I believed everything people told me 🙂 🙂
It´s cold over here and thunder comes and goes. The lightning hit the ground just yards away and my little cottage started to shake. Even old, death Erna noticed the thunder this time 🙂 🙂
Have a great day now!
Christer.
August 6, 2010 at 10:41 am
Christer,
I really wish I could go back to the glory years of rail travel here. It would be wonderful to ride across the country on the train.
The coin was far too small to have any impact on that train. We though it great fun.
Still hot and humid here-it is awful!!
August 5, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Hi, Kat
I love trains. I would take trains everywhere, if I could. Our freight tracks have been paved over and will be added to the Rails to Trails network. That part is a good thing since it will make it much safer for us to walk them. I will miss hearing the train come down the high tracks in the dead of night and blowing the whistle at the crossings.
Here’s some news for you. We have been officially warned that our town, a bit north of Boston, has fisher cats. They eat squirrels. (They also eat small dogs and cats and bird seed which is not so good.) They are increasing their territory so perhaps someday your Spawn of Satan will have something to contend with. Not that I wish bad cess to him or his kin that invade my attic. No, not at all.
August 6, 2010 at 10:43 am
Caryn,
I saw the article in the Globe about the fisher cats and noticed that there have been sightings here on the cape. I don’t worry about Gracie or my cats (who never leave the house), but I wouldn’t mind the Spawn of Satan served on a platter with a few vegetables for any hungry fisher cat.
I love the sound of the train whistle at night.
August 6, 2010 at 10:45 am
And then You would have a much bigger fisher cat gnawing on Your deck furnitures 🙂 🙂 🙂
August 5, 2010 at 4:31 pm
For those of us that once took the commuter trains, in my case in to London, our affection is very limited. I didn’t have to fantasize about where I was going it was Ashtead , Epsom, and so on until Waterloo. Down in to the Drain and on to the City.
Dirty, overcrowded, late, strike ridden,overpriced, it sucked and I dont miss it one bit.
August 6, 2010 at 10:45 am
My Dear Hedley,
Here I mean those long distant trains with sleeping and dining cars, not commuter trains. I’m remembering the wonderful train rides I had across Europe and in Africa (though we did get derailed about 5 in the morning).
If I were wealthy, I’d have my private car and pay to attach it to trains all over the country and into Canada. It would be glorious stopping wherever I want for as long as I want.
August 5, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Kat,
We are so much alike. I absolutely love trains and biked to the tracks way away from our home to put pennies on the track and waited excitedly for the train. Even those old fixer track machines would smash them. We waved to the workers. What a great memory for today. Thanks!
August 6, 2010 at 10:47 am
Z&Me,
You and I share such similar memories. Those trains were the high points of our days. I remember jumping over the wooden parts of the tracks with double O’s. It was a save your mother from a back break move.
I miss trains.
August 5, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Istanbul? Not Constantinople?
I’m another train fan, BTW. I wish it was cheaper to travel across continent by train, tho — last time I checked it was almost twice as expensive as flying!
August 6, 2010 at 10:49 am
Buzz,
I keep checking the fares and specials in case I find a train route I can afford to take. The current Orient Express has no interest for me despite its luxury. Besides, it’s over $10,000.
August 6, 2010 at 10:46 am
About that humidity: don’t you have air conditioning somewhere in that house?
August 6, 2010 at 10:49 am
Ralph,
I have it in my bedroom, but I don’t want to spend my days there. The deck has a breeze. but I sweat every time I do anything. Next week the whole house will be air-conditioned.
August 7, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Hey Kat!
This post reminded me of my Aunt Ellie and my Uncle Pappy, who, after they retired bought a trailer and drove all over the USA. I get my travelin’ Jones from her. She was my Dad’s sister (almost 14 years older than he was, but they were close) and she always said the Burnetts were born with an itch to travel. I love nothing better than to jump in my car with my suitcase in the back…
Ellie and Pappy were among the first passengers when the Auto Train came into being. I took it about 10 years ago and had mixed results. I have a mild case of cerebral palsy and my legs are a bit unsteady, so you should have seen mr walk around through the different cars! I DO NOT do well walking around if a bus or train is in motion! 🙂
Shall we say hilarity ensued? And drinks were spilled. 🙂
I applied for retirement recently and got it. I don’t know what I will do with myself. I will be moving to new digs and my life is suddenly different. I suddenly have a different appreciation for this blog!
All good wishes – –
Coleen
August 7, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Hi Coleen,
If I didn’t have the dog and two cats, I’d travel far more as I have always dreamed of owning an RV and following the wind. I’d stop at all the roadside attractions: the string ball, the toilet museum, the car Stonehenge, all of them.
I hope that retirement will be wonderful for you. Don’t worry. You’ll find ways to keep busy or you’ll just enjoy being totally indolent.