Friday, October 2, 2009








Last week on one of my posts...I mentioned that I was off to visit an old friend......

Trains have always held interest for me. My Grandfather was an engineer on the L&N (Louisville and Nashville) rail line. I stepped on board the train and it felt like an old friend. I had heard so many stories over the years about the L and N line...too many to mention them all here. The stories part of the oral tradition of passing down to later generations.

Recounting how the railroad was my grandfather's ticket to the world outside of Evansville. How stepping onto a train helped everyone forget the depression at least for a time. The plush luxury of the club car with the full kitchen serving Chicken Cordon Bleu and desert recipes from Chicago and San Fransisco...treats for the palette never experienced in the old shotgun house where he grew up. What it was like pulling into the rail yards of Chicago for the first time and seeing the skyline with it's towering buildings quite unlike the small town he left behind in Southern Indiana.

Stories of poker games and tall tales being spun in the caboose as it rocked long the rails on cold winter days...the wood stove keeping them warm as their eyes were glued to the passing countryside...always changing...always new worlds to discover.

I can't think of a comparison to the same sense of exploration and wonderment they felt in those days. We have now become so accustomed to travel...it seems we no longer look below the surface to experience the journey. Anymore...regretfully...the journey is all about getting from point a to point b as fast as we can. We are missing so much in between.

29 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh Dan, I love these railroad photos! I think old trains are fabulous and you have really captured the vinteage appeal!

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks Bobbi...I enjoyed taking the pictures that day...sort of took me back to another time.

Dan

DawnTreader said...

I'll return to the photos when I'm on my other computer, I'm on my laptop against the light right now... But I really like the one with the bench and the clock! As for trains...
Don't think I've mentioned it, but my dad is/was a big railway enthusiast... has done a great deal of research about Swedish railways, including writing 3-4 books about them, and was always crazy about steam engines... Before I moved away from home (at the age of 20), I had rarely travelled by "real" train (for the purpose of transporing myself from one place to another), but I had been on dozens of steam trains, both in Sweden and Britain...!

Dan Felstead said...

Dawn Treader...are his books in Swedish...I suppose so...I would like to read them. I have more pictures of the trains...I may post them.

Dan

DawnTreader said...

Yes Dan, I'm afraid you would have to learn Swedish first to be able to read my dad's books... They're not likely to ever be translated. I confess I have not read them myself (only little bits here and there), they're too full of details. Unfortunately for dad, neither me nor my brother inherited his interest... I think there were a few too many railway tracks on our holidays when we were kids - not all with steam engines on them either! Dad would go off looking for possible remains of old-maybe-once-station-houses deep in the woods (sometimes there were not even any railway tracks left any more)... while the rest of the family stayed in the car waiting... waiting... waiting... ;)

septembermom said...

These railroad photos are great! Beauty and character in each one. The colors and perspective are terrific. I love the bench one.

Dan Felstead said...

Dawn Treader...isn't that the way it always is! I have a friend whose father restores classic cars...when he was small..his dad would always drag him to all the car shows..etc....now today, my friend hates old restored cars!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Septembermom...the bench is my favorite as well...thanks for the comment.

Have a great weekend.

Dan

Sunny said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sunny said...

Outstanding! I love trains and you have captured their true essence.
The bench is exceptional!
Sunny :)
P.S. Thanks for the link.

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks Sunny...It was a labor of love!

Your welcomed for the link...it should have been up before now...

Dan

DawnTreader said...

Back for a another peek... Wow, it does make a huge difference what computer (screen) I use to look at your pictures! I really like your editing of these! My favourite among these is still the one with the bench and the clock, though. ;)

I, too, say thanks for the link!

Dan Felstead said...

Dawn Treader...you are more than welcomed for the link...it just took me a while!

Dan

LC Bat said...

Wow, these are flippin' stunning. I think they're my favorites out of what I've seen on this site. (well, except for the ones of and by Zach, but I'm biased.)

Heather said...

GORGEOUS! My favorite one is of the bench... I can't say why, but it really is amazing.

Anonymous said...

Dan first I want to thank you for stopping by today and linking. Hope you don't mind that I used you in my scenario, lol. Your photos definitely placed me on a journey, so much character embedded in them. I learn so much from your narratives. The third photo reminds me of a seen from the movie Blown Away with Tommy Lee Jones and Jeff Bridges.

Have an awesome weekend!

Anonymous said...

PS: I meant to say "scene". Oops.

shabby girl said...

Beautiful pictures, Dan! I especially like the one of the little green table booth. I guess I imagine myself sitting there.
I love how your narratives always make me stop and think a little more deeply about the photos!

Dan Felstead said...

Leah..lol...you almost got in trouble on that one! But thanks anyway!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Heather...your back for a while! Glad you stopped in and thanks for the comment...it seems like everyone's favorite is the bench..mine too.

Have a great weekend.

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Pura...thanks for the kind words...I am going to have to check out Blown Away...I am sure Zach is familiar with it. I will ask him.

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

By the way...no biggie on "seen"...

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks Shabbygirl...I imagine there have been a lot of tall tales spun around that table.

Dan

Anonymous said...

Come pick up your award!

Anonymous said...

Wow what a great post! Love the photos Dan. They set just the right tone. Very well done.

Dan Felstead said...

Thank You Pura! I will stop by!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks Tricia...I know you like trains as well from pictures I have seen on your blog.

Dan

Saraid said...

These photos are wonderful! I love trains too. There's something about them. I would much rather take my time and take a train than fly or drive.

Dan Felstead said...

Saraid...We share the love of trains! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment...I appreciate it.

Dan