When I was a kid in the 1950's, my family took a train to several places. Cincinnati had the 'Union Terminal' (now a museum) and to this day I can remember that huge building, the walkways to the tracks and the ensuing train ride. It was exciting to say the least. I can remember going to Chicago once on a train and staying at the Conrad Hilton hotel. We visited the Science and Industry museum on that trip. I remember the 'working coal mine' and the submarine.
I've seen a lot of places from Kentucky to Virginia to - who knows where else, I assume just about, if not every, state in the US has at least one - have 'dinner' trains and other scenic and/or 'romantic' train rides. I've been to train museums in Pennsylvania. My father had an 8' x 8' American Flyer 2 track layout with the fake grass, hill with tunnels, a huge multiple control transformer which would control various tracks and 'applicance' like blinking lights at road crossings and such. To add to that, during the mid 1960's when I was about 15 I lived in England for a while and spent some time traveling around Europe. Much of it on trains.
It has been a while since I've been on a train and I dream of traveling from NY to LA (I don't think a continuous trip exists any more) on a train to this day. Or, in another dream, to ride the Orient Express (deceased but resurrected if my information is correct). In short, I like trains for whatever reason.
I was home the other day and saw an old Buster Keaton movie which has a replica of one of the first trains in the US in (I can't remember the movie title) and the announcer (it was on Turner Classic Movies) said the train was so realistic that it was donated to the Smithsonian, if I remember correctly.
Anyway - As I sat here thinking, I was wondering - and not specific to the US - How may of you folks have ridden on a train? I'll bet some take a train every day (subways don't count here, although I agree they're 'extensions' of what a train is). What are your train experiences and memories?
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I was wrong on the Keaton film and the train being so authentically reproduced and which was donated to the Smithsonian, it was the bicycle in the film (a 'Gentleman's Hobby Horse'). The movie is Our Hospitality from 1923.
The train in the film is - Well, check it out...
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Last time I did serious cross-country train travel was in the 60's = Panama Limited, City of Miami, and City of New Orleans on the old Illinois Central Maybe about 5 or 6,000 miles in total trips per year for four years. I still do commuter train (real train, not light rail El or subway - I do those, too, but it is not a real "train experience.")
I would love to go on a super fast train like Japan has.
I don't count "15 minute "joy rides" at tourist traps as a real train ride, but if you have never been - it's close enough to get the flavor.
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One of the auditors I deal with uses trains whenever possible. Says she'd rather sleep Saturday night on a train (acquired talent, I believe says it rocks you to sleep) and get to the destination and have all day rather than spend all day Sunday in an airport. Made some sense.
I've checked into it for things like trips to NYC, but Jet Blue can get me there for $50.
As kids, mom used to put us on the Cleveland "Rapid Transit" and take us downtown to see Santa. That was always fun - limited memories - more of Santa than the train. Cleveland's train station was "Terminal Tower" which is now "Tower City" and has been refurbished. The short train runs around the city are very popular.
A Search is a terrible thing to waste! One Test is Worth 1000 Expert Opinions - The plural of anecdote is not data.
We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them. - Unknown
__________________ "Few minds wear out; more rust out"
Inscribed over the entrance of Louis Pasteur School, Chicago
Christian Nestell Bovee (1820-1904) in Thoughts, Feelings and Fancies, 1857
How may of you folks have ridden on a train? I'll bet some take a train every day (subways don't count here, although I agree they're 'extensions' of what a train is). What are your train experiences and memories?
Ah... Trains... When I did my stint in the military, I had more than my fair share of them - two night trains every week. When that was over, I was so fed up with train rides that I honestly thought I'd stay away from them for the rest of my days... but that passed.
Nowadays I actually prefer going by train when my job requires me to travel. Besides, todays trains are a far cry from the clunky things we had back then: The comfort is better than in an airliner, and the speed is not bad either.
Ah... Trains... When I did my stint in the military, I had more than my fair share of them - two night trains every week. When that was over, I was so fed up with train rides that I honestly thought I'd stay away from them for the rest of my days... but that passed.
Nowadays I actually prefer going by train when my job requires me to travel. Besides, todays trains are a far cry from the clunky things we had back then: The comfort is better than in an airliner, and the speed is not bad either.
/Claes
Ah, but Claes, the train system where *you* are is far superior to any system in North America. I backpacked through Europe a couple of summers ago after grad, and we travelled almost exclusively by train (with the exception of our round trip to Britain from Canada, and our flights to and from the mainland - London to Amsterdam and Geneva to London). Everything else was done by train - and it was great. The flexibility and the frequency that is offered by EuRail far exceeds what is offered here - by ViaRail, at least!
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Have you travelled by Train? Lately?
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