Riding the Rails

Riding the Rails

By Judy

My grandmother had four sisters who lived out of state, just as Emily’s mother’s sisters did. “The girls,” as we called them, came to visit the family in Kansas every two or three years. They always rode the train and talked of eating sandwiches and cookies in their seats on the train. Once in a while they treated themselves to a meal in the dining car. It sounded like adventure to me.

When it was time for the Kansas family to visit the relatives in Illinois, we drove instead of taking the train. I have bad memories of sharing the back seat of the car with my brothers on hot summer days with the open windows allowing hurricane force winds to blow my hair straight out.

Because I didn’t have a train ride as a child, I wanted my children to experience one and made plans for the family to travel via rail from Kansas City to St. Louis. “You go ahead and take the kids. I’ll just drive and meet you at the station,” my husband said. “That way we won’t need to rent a car.”

“No, I’m not going. Why would I want to take a train trip with these little brats?” my college-age daughter asked. “Besides, I think I have to work that day. What day did you say you were leaving?”

“Do you think I’ll get motion sickness on the train?” my other daughter asked.

“Can I take my GI Joes to play with so I won’t be bored? I’ll only take ten, I promise. Just enough to have a battle,” my younger son said.

“I’m packed. When do we leave? Can I look for brochures on walking tours in St. Louis before we leave the station in Kansas City?” my adventurous son asked.

Despite discouragement from the naysayers, I proceeded with my plans for a family train ride. At last, the day for the trip arrived. My husband drove the van and arrived at the hotel within minutes of our taxi from the St. Louis train station. My college daughter worked that weekend as she had suggested she might. (She is older now and appreciates time spent with her siblings…probably because she has three children of her own now.)  There might have been a little bit of boredom on the trip, but I don’t have a memory of major complaints. I’m happy to report, too, there was no vomiting on the trip.