Indian trains are like a traveling village, and once the trip begins, everyone socializes. Some meals are furnished by sending a telegraph ahead, others you just buy out the windows or at longer stops, on the platforms. I have dozens of memorable people, long two and three hour conversations — but never to meet again. On the run across between Bombay and Madress, there was a businessman and two assistants who were delivering copies of nearly first run video — latest films, latest Dallas shows, all flown in on Air India by the pilot for a cut, copied, and systematicly moved from village to village much as the old rail post. One assistant hung out of the door with a pillow case full of video, and he grabbed the returns at the same time. Village theatres were one Monitor, one VCR and one generator. Of course they now all have sattelite. At one stop, waiting to clear a wreck off the track, we sat on the platform playing cards — and looking back at the huge line up of trains held up. While not looking, a goat ate the cards. On that line they were still using steam, and got a lesson from the driver how the huge engine functioned all while we waited. Each segment is twenty stories, all different, all disconnected.

We enjoy great service up to Chicago at 8:20 AM and arriving around 10:30 AM, an overnight or two in Chi-town and back again for UNDER $20!

Unfortunately, the oil lobbyists aren’t letting high-speed inter-city train service develop or trailers on flat-cars either. Just drove down to Indy and the trucks were at least half the traffic. If the rain was running at any half way decent times, we’d be on it several times per week.

And, unfortunately for you, Amtrakdrops dramatically East of Chi-town.

The video is done!

Which video? The one Demetrius did for this contest, which ate up almost every waking moment of the past week for him–and many moments that should have been sleeping moments.

You can see it here, if you like.

I’m going to appreciate having my husband back. :)

I liked it!

The cool thing about those sleeper trains is the sound…kachunkachunk…kachunkachunk..kachunkachunk, and the way it rocks you in the berth and you get lulled to sleep….

My dad always said it sounded like the wheels were repeating the name of an old baseball player: HeinieManush-HeinieManush-HeinieManush

Until you cross it on the ground, you have no idea how big, how weird, and how great this country is.

The first time I crossed the crountry on the ground was from NYC to the West Coast and on to British Columbia in a 1939 Plymouth with my grandfather driving. It was the fifties, I was about seven or eight and there was no interstate highway system. Two lane roads across the Rockies, sometimes one lane roads where you had to back up to let an oncoming car pass, We went through PA, Ohio to Detroit to the River Rouge plant, on to Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, through the Dakotas and the Sioux Indian reservations, the badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Montana and Glacier National Park, etc.

That’s over 50 years ago, and I still remember it like it was last month. The whole trip there and back took over seven weeks. Without the Interstates, you really get an idea of the size of this nation.

spurious @ 33

As much fun as this? :~) Sounds like you had a great trip!

No where near THAT much fun. But then, most folks don’t get to ride and play with Marilyn either so…

True! But maybe we should organize an FDL train to DC for one of these hearings. Wonder if there are any more of those old sleeper cars around?

Off to an appointment, late as usual.

Loved it. Going through Gore Canyon, the Nevada deserts at sunrise, and the Front Range of the Rockies was just stunning.

dakine01 @ 27

It was an absolute blast. It was in ‘78 so the one-way ticket with sleeper cabin was $225. Drinks and meals were extra. It had a full dining car but did not have the dome car as advertised, just regular bar/club car. Folks gathered, talked, and played cards. Someone had a tape deck and played a bit of jazz. Left Chi at 6P on Sunday and got into Oakland at 4P on Tuesday. Relaxing, watching the scenery through the land and just kicked back.

As much fun as this? :~) Sounds like you had a great trip!

No where near THAT much fun. But then, most folks don’t get to ride and play with Marilyn either so…