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I was inspired to write this to explain my life long fascination with trains. I call it simply "The Beast".
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When I was young – only 4 or 5. My parents took me to see the trains. I honestly don’t remember where or when but one part still stands out in my mind. My father took me to the station for what I now know is a ‘Run By’. The locomotive and train would run past the station at speed. He was doing around 90 mph when he passed.
My father took me to the station and we found a prime spot close (but not too close) to the tracks. And we waited.
My first sensation was the rails started to sing. An odd twanging, humming sound that told of a train approaching. Then there was a faint shriek of a whistle. A light appeared in the distance and slowly got larger and brighter.
The ground started to shake – a faint vibration only felt through the soles of my feet. But it grew stronger and a pounder rumbling noise accompanied it.
The rumbling and shaking grew louder and stronger. Was it an earthquake? Would the buildings collapse? Suddenly the beast was upon us. The whole world seemed to shake and rock as the smoke and noises drowned out all else as this massive black shape blotted out the sun and hung over everything.
A blast of air like a hurricane slammed into us and sent me scurrying to the safety of my father. I was frightening, delighted, excited and terrified all at the same time.
With a roar of the whistle and the pounding of the wheels the locomotive roared past in a cloud of steam, smoke and ash. I was afraid that the whole world would collapse.
Then as suddenly as it had arrived the great beast was gone. Leaving a cloud of smoke, steam and ash behind. The rumbling slowly faded away and the grand shaking went with it.
My parents never could understand why I wasn’t afraid of thunder. Why should I be – after that?
****
When I was young – only 4 or 5. My parents took me to see the trains. I honestly don’t remember where or when but one part still stands out in my mind. My father took me to the station for what I now know is a ‘Run By’. The locomotive and train would run past the station at speed. He was doing around 90 mph when he passed.
My father took me to the station and we found a prime spot close (but not too close) to the tracks. And we waited.
My first sensation was the rails started to sing. An odd twanging, humming sound that told of a train approaching. Then there was a faint shriek of a whistle. A light appeared in the distance and slowly got larger and brighter.
The ground started to shake – a faint vibration only felt through the soles of my feet. But it grew stronger and a pounder rumbling noise accompanied it.
The rumbling and shaking grew louder and stronger. Was it an earthquake? Would the buildings collapse? Suddenly the beast was upon us. The whole world seemed to shake and rock as the smoke and noises drowned out all else as this massive black shape blotted out the sun and hung over everything.
A blast of air like a hurricane slammed into us and sent me scurrying to the safety of my father. I was frightening, delighted, excited and terrified all at the same time.
With a roar of the whistle and the pounding of the wheels the locomotive roared past in a cloud of steam, smoke and ash. I was afraid that the whole world would collapse.
Then as suddenly as it had arrived the great beast was gone. Leaving a cloud of smoke, steam and ash behind. The rumbling slowly faded away and the grand shaking went with it.
My parents never could understand why I wasn’t afraid of thunder. Why should I be – after that?
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Well written!
Takes me back to when I was 5 and about to go on my first Amtrak train ride. But before I did, I had to endure two freight trains passing by and boy was it loud! I was scared and ran back to my parents and others waiting for the Amtrak to come. I cried after the second train went by.
When I'm in a car, at least an idling car, trains weren't that much of a problem, but being outdoors, that was quite a different story. And there was a railroad crossing nearby!
Why didn't I have this problem when I lived in Germany, which was before (although trains don't blow their horns at crossings unless it's a passive crossing) and I rode lots of the German trains and watched some go by at a station. I guess the German trains weren't as loud as the American ones or something.
Takes me back to when I was 5 and about to go on my first Amtrak train ride. But before I did, I had to endure two freight trains passing by and boy was it loud! I was scared and ran back to my parents and others waiting for the Amtrak to come. I cried after the second train went by.
When I'm in a car, at least an idling car, trains weren't that much of a problem, but being outdoors, that was quite a different story. And there was a railroad crossing nearby!
Why didn't I have this problem when I lived in Germany, which was before (although trains don't blow their horns at crossings unless it's a passive crossing) and I rode lots of the German trains and watched some go by at a station. I guess the German trains weren't as loud as the American ones or something.