Powered by Blogger.

Nothing Could Be Finer

You Leave the Pennsylvania Station 'Round a Quarter to Four...
Read a magazine and then you're in Baltimore...

Nothing Could be Finer


Let's start on a Sunlit Sunday or a sunlit Monday, or even a not very sunlit Monday or Tuesday, or any day of the week. Even if it's overcast and gloomy at Pennsylvania Station the sun will be shining somewhere on our journey. 

Our journey -- somewhere across America. The names of the trains are the some of the most romantic words I know. Valentine's Day is sweet to some, but give me the City of New Orleans or the California Zephyr or the Heartland Flyer. I'm off on a magic carpet on a ride of adventure. I'm not sure all that I will see and I don't know who I will meet, but the words fill me with excitement. 

My first train trips were on the New Haven Railroad not quite fifty years ago. It doesn't seem that long ago, but when I put it in writing it is a long time and a different world ago. The stops stick in my mind...Berlin, Wallingford, Meriden and New Haven. These were the first trips I took alone. It was only a distance of forty miles, but I entered a new world. I was fifteen years old and I could go anywhere on the train. 

I've since been as far north as White River Junction, Vermont and as far south as Harper's Ferry, West Virginia on Amtrak enjoying the scenery and the people. I got to see the small towns of America and the beautiful countryside. Yes, it's a lot slower than flying, but you can't see the autumn colors or the sun on a lake when you're flying over the country.  

Now fifteen is a long time past but I can still go anywhere on the train. Here's to the states I've never seen -- to Michigan, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, to New Mexico and North and South Dakota. I'll be coming to see you and I'll be coming on the train. It may be a rainy day in New York, but it will be a sunlit day when I arrive. The journey makes the sunlight. 

To all who took the Sunlit Sunday journey with me, many thanks. You made the sunlight. 

19 comments

Pam said...

It sounds great! A fun way to see the sites. We've been talking about taking a Canadian Pacific trip. I've heard they're wonderful and always thought the Orient Express must've been quite an intriguing ride! Have fun when you go!

Nellie said...

Oops! You will miss us here. There are no passenger trains that come through our area.:-( Enjoy!

Ida said...

I've always wanted to take a trip by train. It sounds like you've enjoyed many.

My Little Home and Garden said...

I used to like the story my mom told of moving away from the Cape Breton countryside and traveling across several provinces to Ottawa. She and her friend were 19 and the kind porter would check on "my girls". Enjoy your future trips and thank you for sharing your blog at Sunlit Sunday.

-Karen

Melinda said...

Hop on that train to Kansas and we'll meet you at the depot to show you around.

You are doing the blog challenge right?

M :)

Linda said...

We took a train from Tuscaloosa, AL to Birmingham, AL. for our sons 6th birthday. We spent the night and came back. Then we took the train from Tuscaloosa to New Orleans. I have always wanted to go from coast to coast, that sounds like fun. Thanks for sharing your memories. Blessings

LuAnn @ BackPorchervations said...

Never did a whole lot of train travel in this country, except for tourist/sightseeing deals.

New follower from A to Z Challenge.

LuAnn Braley
AJ's Hooligans @AtoZChallenge
Back Porchervations

Susie said...

The only train ride I ever had was riding from South Bend to Chicago for a day of shopping...such fun. I went to the rail station in NYC . We had lunch there, I love that very much. xoxo,Susie

Theresa said...

Nothing could be finer:). I road a train from Atlanta to Washington when I was in the 7th grade. One of my most favorite memories. Fun time on a train, nothing could be finer! Enjoy. Hugs

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

As a long-time train rider, I am jealous of your new adventure. What a time you will have! And oh my, you are taking some wonderful trains.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I would love to travel on a train...my husband and I have talked about it! What a fun post my friend! Hugs!

TARYTERRE said...

A train ride is like, no other. I loved hearing about your adventures.

Marie Rayner said...

Carol, I love train travel. I never had the opportunity to go on a train until I was 17. I love, loved it! I still do. You can see a lot of the country from the windows of a train. It's exciting. I like the names of your trains! How perfectly lovely!

Lynda said...

When you get to Oklahoma, Iowa, and Kansas, you must tell us if there is any difference in their scenery! I know they are part of the heartland of America but aren't they super flat, too? I like traveling by train. We took Amtrak more than once between Georgia and NY when visiting my mom.

Paula said...

Take the train to Seattle and then the bus to Bellingham, and then the ferry to Juneau, AK!

Sola Scriptura said...

I always enjoy travelling by train here in the UK. A trip across America would be fantastic too!

Grammy Staffy said...

I hope your train ride will bring you to CA. It sound like you have a grand trip in store for you.

Are you OK today? I've been watching for you to post A to Z. I'm a bit concerned about you since you haven't posted yet. I'm sending you hugs, Lura

cedarmerefarm said...

How lucky are you! I love trains. I remember one train ride very fondly. After my sister's wedding years ago, my husband, I and our 2 children met our friends and their son in San Francisco and rode the train down the coast of California. It was very fun.

Annesphamily said...

I loved riding on the train as a kid! Gosh, Michigan, you need to go to Mackinaw Island. Oklahoma, the OKC Bombing Memorial, Iowa the heartland too, New Mexico, the Opera and R.C. Gorman and Georgia O'Keeffe, Kansas, Dorothy's house from the Wizard of Oz, good barbeque, Nebraska the birthplace of Johnny Carson and Larry the Cable Guy. Warren Buffet still lives in the same house he bought in the 1950s, North Dakota is not a winter haven, too cold and lots of snow. South Dakota is, of course, the home to Mount Rushmore. My Late Uncle Tom Binder was born in Yankton as was Tom Brokaw. I love your posts.