Train Tracks

A little girl played along the railroad tracks. Walking on the rails, playing in the little station house. Waiting for her friend the engineer to blow the whistle as he came around the bend. On special days he would stop and lift her and her mother into an empty box car , then hurry back to the engine, open the throttle, the steam would hiss and away we'd go. Ill never forget the sound of that chug-chug-chug getting faster and faster until it seemed we were flying down the track. The journey wasn't far, about 5 miles. . A short trip but an exciting one for a child who lived miles from the nearest town. We would spend the day playing in the river and picnicking on the shore. In the afternoon we'd catch the northbound and return home tired and happy. It was a simpler time, we didn’t worry about the legality of that little ride, or for that matter, the safety of riding in an open car with our feet dangling out the door.. we just lived! The train was a big part of my life and I still get a thrill when I hear that far away whistle in the night. the hiss of the steam down the tracks and round the bend back to my childhood 1/8/15