Growing up as a little girl in the Midwest who read and daydreamed far too much, I developed a very romanticized idea of train travel. Train conductors wearing jaunty hats and in navy suits with gold buttons. Semi-private travel compartments where the occupants faced each other. Rail lines that ran through scenic areas. The conductor yelling all aboard as the train whistle blew and later checked ticket stubs as the train wound around narrow mountain passes. It seemed to be a perfectly lovely way to travel.
Unfortunately, passenger trains don't run through South Dakota, so I never had an opportunity to ride a train. That is until this past weekend. I had a conference up in Philadelphia, so rather than drive or fly, I decided to take the train from Charlottesville.
Train travel is really brilliant. There's no need to show up to the train station more than 30 minutes early unless you're checking bags. No one cares if you bring liquids on board. There are no security lines, no metal detectors, no rigorous ID check. Having traveled so much by plane since 9/11, I've grown so accustomed to the hassles of flying that it was really a huge shock to not have similar hassles with train travel.
While there were no semi-private compartments with facing rows of seats (at least not in the car I sat in), there was an amazing amount of room available for each passenger and virtually no restrictions on moving about the train. Complete with dining and sleeping cars, the train in and of itself rather lived up to my expectations.
My expectations of a scenic ride were not exactly met. Between C'ville and DC, it was somewhat scenic, but between DC and Philly, the tracks were lined with urban decay and slum neighborhoods. I suppose I shouldn't have been too surprised, but it was rather disappointing and disheartening to see how horrible some of the living conditions are.
I was not disappointed, however, by the conductors. They really do wear jaunty hats and in navy suits with gold buttons, yell "all aboard," and ask to check ticket stubs midway through the journey. It warmed my heart to know that at least one of my childhood ideals about train rides was still true.
4 comments:
Ahhhh, I like trains as well. In London they are HUGE. In the city you obviously have the "tube" but then, once you need to go out of the centre of London, you get trains. They are great when they are not over filled with people who are squished in there like sardines.
We went to Scotland last year on a train, it was awesome! My dream is still to go on the Orient Express...... In Victoria station in London there is a little door that says "Orient Express", that's where the magic happens... :) :) :)
I really enjoyed this post. :)
Trains... what a magical air you gave them! I am pro-trains as well! It's just such a shame that this issue, meaning railroad system is not something that US wants to excell in... that's OK, we have traffic congestions, expensive flights, tremendous delays in the airports etc. instead. I am catching the train next weekend to Richmond! Yuppie!:)
Will you ride again? I've checked into riding but the price was too high. I will try again... Kira runs about the house going nuts every time we here the train down the street. I wish I had taken the train more frequently from the suburbs to Chicago.
Are you going to stay put for another year? You would be someone who I could see enjoying a spell in Europe or Australia. Imagine the amazing sights and interactions you'd take in. I wonder if you'll ever publish some of your writings. You engage your readers to use their imagination so well. : )
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