tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post8066071902444075779..comments2024-03-29T10:59:34.918-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Writing on the TrainJim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-14293795070225885842016-04-11T20:40:51.270-04:002016-04-11T20:40:51.270-04:00When I was young in the NYC area, travelling by tr...When I was young in the NYC area, travelling by train was fairly common. We'd go to the train station in Hempstead to pick up my grandmother when she came to visit; she'd take us on the train to stay at her apartment in Yonkers. If we went to visit my great grandmother in Boston, we'd go by train. Any time we went "into the city" (Manhattan) we'd take the Long Island Railroad. We'd also take it out on the island to visit an aunt who lived out there. I can't quite conjure up the chant we'd listen for on the public address system, starting with "Now loading on platform..." and listing the stops, then "Change at Jamaica for ..." but I'm sure I'd recognize it if I heard it. I can practically smell the scent of the creosote soaked ties when they got wet, and hear the steam escaping from underneath the cars by the wheels (brakes? It never occurred to me to wonder why steam should be coming from under the cars.)<br /><br />I remember how horrified I was when I first used the "rest room" in an old train, and understood first hand why there was a little sign saying, "Do not flush when in station."<br /><br />I took the Chicago-NY train a number of times. And when we lived in Michigan, the main line from Chicago to Detroit ran across the street behind our house. <br /><br />We now have freight trains that run through the area, and sometimes late at night, that lonesome whistle wails on the wind, suggesting destinations and adventures that I can only dream about.KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-19972370355106483402016-04-11T16:49:47.695-04:002016-04-11T16:49:47.695-04:00What a nice memory, Kait. It's easy to see how...What a nice memory, Kait. It's easy to see how children feel so attracted to trains. Hope some day you do get to make that cross country run.Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-79863466511255086962016-04-11T16:44:29.339-04:002016-04-11T16:44:29.339-04:00I love train travel. It started with my love affai...I love train travel. It started with my love affair with a coal burner. <br /><br />When I was little, very little, I barely remember it and most of what I remember is the grit, the Erie Lackawana railroad announced it was retiring its last coal burner and the company was going to send it on a final trip over all of its tracks. Tickets were being sold by the leg, this was a commemorative run after all. So, my mother bought one to take me to my Godmother's parent's house. It was a good long trip through the NJ countryside and I fell in love with train travel. I often said I would love to cross the country by train. With a good engineer...it's a trip and an education!Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-36413606544696746692016-04-11T16:44:18.770-04:002016-04-11T16:44:18.770-04:00Hi everyone!
I'm back on the train - going hom...Hi everyone!<br />I'm back on the train - going home!<br />Jim, the sleeping car/dining car combo sounds great.<br />EB, I am with you about the cleanliness of planes (and trains and most public forms of transportation). Honestly, why can't that be done better?<br />Carla and Warren, Yes and Yes!<br />Margaret, I have to say that the Quiet Car is great - I've gotten a ton of writing done - and also so daydreaming and dozing.<br />Julie, Wow! Here's to even more adventures!<br />Gloria, Your adventure with the Cuyahoga train was amazing. What a great way to teach history.Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-43409509046272894902016-04-11T14:10:00.507-04:002016-04-11T14:10:00.507-04:00The only train I've ever been on is one that g...The only train I've ever been on is one that goes through Cuyahoga National Park. Once was with my grandchildren on a trip with a park ranger who talked to the kids about things in nature to look for in the park with some pelts, etc. The other two times was as a reenactment on the Underground Railroad, where we became slaves following our guide by lantern, with various scary things happening when a sheriff jumped out, or we were hiding out in an old barn as someone on a stop on the Underground Railroad argued with some slave catchers. When we heard gunshots, we had to escape into the woods following another guide. It always ended with us crawling into the train in the dark.<br /><br />As for plane travel, I've met some really interesting people. I tend to spend most of my time reading, but as we are getting ready to load or come down, often I strike up a conversation if my seat partner seems willing to talk. It's a great way to create characters if you have time to write it down after leaving the person. Even if I don't strike up a conversation, I like to observe people and wonder about where they're going, why they're going there, etc. Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-74507510053072875042016-04-11T13:23:09.724-04:002016-04-11T13:23:09.724-04:00I love train travel. I once rode from KC to Boston...I love train travel. I once rode from KC to Boston with no clear idea of what I would do once I reached my destination. Turned out my seat mate worked at a Marriott near the train station and helped me get a discount on a room for the night I arrived. The next day, I rented a car and drove up to Maine. I was a lot younger and a lot more adventurous then. :)Julie Tollefsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01579825918764925361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-82950492273583260332016-04-11T10:29:47.815-04:002016-04-11T10:29:47.815-04:00loved the poetry on the jeans. Very sisterhood of ...loved the poetry on the jeans. Very sisterhood of the traveling pants, which one of my daughters did years ago.<br /><br />I like train travel. I daydream, look out the window, and people watch. Now that cell phones have invaded public transportation, I would be a candidate for the quiet car.Margaret S. Hamiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07979191318652199350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-80630573778120834002016-04-11T09:52:06.922-04:002016-04-11T09:52:06.922-04:00My wife and I took a transCanada train once and I ...My wife and I took a transCanada train once and I remember it fondly. Why could' the pants be both?Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-57843857351704611012016-04-11T09:40:46.903-04:002016-04-11T09:40:46.903-04:00I LOVE train travel but rarely get to ride one. An...I LOVE train travel but rarely get to ride one. And your story about the musician needs to go in a book!carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15985823239660829148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-50563261501188529202016-04-11T06:49:38.330-04:002016-04-11T06:49:38.330-04:00I've never traveled much by train, Shari. Your...I've never traveled much by train, Shari. Your blog was informative for those of us who go by car or plane. I'm not thrilled by mass transit these days. Planes aren't cleaned very well. I feel captive and vulnerable to germs and canned air. I hope your writing was successful on the train. You weren't distracted by observing curious strangers or the scenery going by?E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-41974486527480504672016-04-11T04:20:29.825-04:002016-04-11T04:20:29.825-04:00Shari,
Perhaps it is the introvert’s car; perhaps...Shari,<br /><br />Perhaps it is the introvert’s car; perhaps the only way to escape obnoxious cell phone use is by rejecting any direct communication with fellow passengers.<br /><br />As readers of this blog know, these days most of my train travel is long distance, and I have a sleeper room to escape to for quiet. The club car and dining car are the places where I get to meet interesting people.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.com