My daughter’s family went for a train ride this weekend. A ‘Thomas the Train‘ train ride. Thomas the Train travels the world hooking up with with other trains to visit with fans. My granddaughter loved the ride and it brought back the memory of when I rode a train. This photo is of her looking out the window of a Thomas the Train made of leggo blocks. Yeah, leggos!
When I was very young, trains were still an important mode of transportation. Most small towns had a passenger rail service. Like most small towns the railroad tracks ran right through the center of it.
The factories in our town used trains to move their products. These tracks ran right into the industrial area and for many years the trains were more important than trucks. Of course that has all changed.
We also had the passenger rail service. And that’s the one I rode on.
I was 11 years old when the rail service was going to be discontinued in our community. That would have been 1962 before Amtrak was created in 1971. My mother was concerned that trains would disappear forever and I would never have the experience of a train ride. It’s odd to me now that she didn’t care if my brothers ever rode a train. She was determined to take care of this possible lack in my life’s experiences and to that end she devised a plan.
She called my neighbor’s daughter who had moved to a town about 15 miles away. Her idea was to put me on the train in my town and ride to the next one. I would get off at that station and my friend would be waiting for me. It was a great plan and she was going to see it executed no matter what.
I honestly didn’t care if I ever rode a train. But that didn’t matter. So on the last day of passenger rail service in my home town, my mother rousted me out of bed early in the morning (it was summer so I didn’t get to skip school). She made me wear a nice dress because I was going on a train. I packed an overnight bag (something I had never done) and we were off to the train station.
My ticket was purchased and then we waited. Of course we were early because Mom was so excited I was going to ride the very last train that would ever stop there for a passenger. I, on the other hand was scared to death.
I know I was 11 years old but the unknown is tough for a child and being alone was the real problem. Mom was to excited to see how unexcited I was. Talk about living vicariously through your child. When the conductor yelled “All aboard” Mom was ready. She put the ticket in my hand, gave me a kiss and pushed me toward the steps of the biggest thing I had ever been on. My mother must have been the only one in town concerned their child needed this experience because I was the only one going up those steps that morning. (No wonder they shut the service down)
I moved down the seats, found one close to a window and sat down. I peered out the window to find Mom waving her arm off. I was ready to cry but found myself waving back at her anyway. I felt like I had been put on the orphan train.
I’d love to say it was a wonderful ride. Truth is I only wanted it to be over. I wanted to see a friendly face at the end. I spent the 15 miles worrying instead of enjoying. But everything went according to the plan. I was met at the station and I spent the night at my friend’s house. The 15 mile ride home was in a car.
As fearful as I was at the time of my train ride, I have always been grateful to my mother for her foresight. Because of her, I was the last person to board the train in our town. And she was right, I have never been on one again.
Looking back 46 years, I think I actually saw the scenery as that train moved down those tracks for the last time. In fact, I’m pretty sure I enjoyed myself.