Train Ride

Little Bedros, my favorite (and only) grandchild, has taken his latest train ride. He treated his Mommy and Daddy to a scenic ride on the Valley Train at the Conway Scenic Railroad. Lucky them. Before that, he took us—all his family—to the New England Aquarium via Commuter Rail. Train trips are so much fun! My wife, Becky, and I have always considered them special. We took our sons on several when they were growing up. The slow, smooth ride, frequent bell clanging, conductor calling, nostalgic feeling and large windows all made for an enjoyable experience.

Like other youngsters of my generation, I was fascinated by trains. Hearing their distant horns late at night while in bed made me wonder where exactly they were. What were they hauling? How many crew members were there? I remember Dad taking me to the rails, knowing when trains would come by and watching the crossing arms lower and then rise once the trains had safely passed. Sometimes I saw and waved to the engineer, who’d smile and salute back. If I were lucky, he’d toot the horn.