Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved trains. Each year, when Santa visited our house, I would ask for a train set. Instead I got books and Barbies. There could be a lot to unpack in this statement, but that is for another day. Instead let’s focus on trains and travel.
The first memory I have of being on a train was going to Cubs games at Wrigley Field with my Dad. This was pure magic. Waiting on the platform, and then holding his large hand, while I looked out at the passing buildings.
In my early 20's, when I lived in Boston, I would take the T to class and to get around rather than driving. I also took the train to D.C. to visit friends. It was a long trip and on one particular occasion, I did an overnight trip and splurged on a sleeper car. It was wonderful! While not spacious, it was mine for the night. The porter stepped in at bedtime, made up my little bed and bid me a good night's sleep. The gentle rocking of the car lulled me quickly to sleep.
Today, my train travel is from D.C. to Philadelphia or to New York City. Buying my ticket makes me excited for travel. Waiting in Philadelphia or New York to learn the track number for the train is kind of like the start of a horse race for a jockey.
“Track 9 for Union Station and all points between” Quick, queue up as close to the front of the line as possible and try to score a front facing window seat. This way I can always look out the window and charge my phone without reaching over a seat mate.
When I have work to do, I seek out the Quiet Car where cell phone use is prohibited and conversations are discouraged. I get so much done on these trips. If you are able to splurge for business class over coach on longer trips I recommend it. You are guaranteed a specific seat and you don’t have to rush to the train.
If you are in Europe, you are really in luck. The train systems there are amazing, with so many options throughout the continent to choose from. While visiting a friend in Belgium, we took the train to Paris for a few days. I went off on my own to see Bruges for a day trip during that same visit. With my rusty French skills I was able to purchase a ticket, find the train and send the day wandering around a beautiful ancient city.
Almost thirty years ago, I visited parts of Switzerland on different sizes and styles of trains. Switzerland has some of the most picturesque train routes in the world. It also has some of the most extensive railway lines in all of Europe (according to the House of Switzerland website).
The narrow-gauge train into Lugano was exciting. Sadly, I don’t remember the exact rail lines I took while in Switzerland, and I had no camera in my backpack. But I do remember the train climbing up and around mountains. Looking out the window, I saw a drop off on my side that made me ill, and the beautiful scenery and the variety of people getting from one destination to another made this journey exciting.
You cannot see much when flying and when driving, since highways rarely go through the beautiful areas of countries and planes usually fly above the clouds. While I haven’t had a chance to take Amtrak across the country, I did have an opportunity to ride a restored 20th Century rail car through the Badlands of South Dakota.
This was a work event and we were on a commercial rail line not a passenger line. I just could not do my designated job on that train. I stood for a time with the wife of the governor of South Dakota, discussing the beauty of the state she called home and pondering the lack of interesting passenger rail lines. Seeing the Badlands from the caboose of this train led me to visit them again with my husband almost two decades later.
Why do commercial trains get such lovely routes while passenger trains usually do not? Why can’t our country create a rail system the way Europe did? I love to drive, but trains allow you to nap, read, or watch the scenery pass by without worry of congestion and gas. The seats are far more comfortable than those on planes and cars and there is the added benefit of being able to walk around without stopping.
I don’t think we will ever have a public rail system like other countries do. But I do plan to take as many trains as possible whenever and wherever I can. Where would you like to go on a train?
We rode the train from Denali to Talkeetna, Wondrous!