Train Travel, Romance vs. Reality

Trains were part of my everyday life growing up. Hormels Meat Packing had their headquarters in my hometown of Austin, Mn. so I crossed the tracks leading into the plant daily. I must confess there were a few times when as mischievious teenagers we hopped a ride in moving cars. Hardly a safe act but this was the only time I rode on a train until I was an adult. When I was stationed in West Germany in the late 70's I was able to ride their train system and appreciate the efficiency and ease of travel. Shuttles could take you to the smallest hamlets or speedy expresses would rush you without stops to the larger cities or tourist destinations. We rode one such express from Stuttgart to Munich, then to Berchtesgaden for a retreat. With such a system you didn't need a car. Unfortunately we dismantled our rail lines stateside to a greater extent because of our love of cars. A few years after we were married we took an Amtrak train from Lancaster, Pa. to Denver, Co. It was 1985 and our two boys were three years old and 18 months old. For the oldest the trip was a chance to play with other young children on the train. Since our youngest didn't have any memory of the trip we took another train ride in 2005 from Harrisburg, Pa. to Winona, Mn. I hope the differences from the first trip to the second was just an aberation. We started off late and by the time we arrived in Chicago we were three hours late. An hour had been spent stalled overnight while the train wheels were inspected. Possibly just biding time waiting for a freighter to pass through? By the time we pulled into Chicago most of the food onboard was gone. The food was expensive but for the most part tasty. The six hour layover in Chicago was now only a three hour layover. The Chicago train station is wonderful. That alone made the experience worthwhile both times. My oldest son went up to the top of the Sears tower and took pics that look as if he were in a plane. We pulled into Winona just an hour overdue. On the trip home I met a hobo at the Winona station who was selling his books. Intrigued, I bought one. Curious reading yet informative but in the back of my mind I wonder if he was really just an eccentric academic passing his summers as a hobo. Probably not, just a literate hobo. His main complaints centered around the increasing immigrant population. 'Send them back to where they came from' he spouted bitterly. Hardly the sentiments one would expect from someone who bucks the path commonly trod. Back in Pa. my family swore that it would be their last trip via train. The romance is gone for some, replaced by a bitter reality. I still enjoyed the trip. Til next time.   Gary, the hapless wanderer.