The
Magic of Train Travel
A few months ago my dear friend
of forty years treated me to a train trip that started in Seattle and ended in
Los Angeles. We took a break for a few days in San Francisco.
Is it because we are all in such
a hurry? Sure, you can fly from Seattle to San Francisco in two hours as
compared to a day and a half on the train. Granted, it doesn’t make sense to
take the train if you are on a business trip or are limited for time. It’s not
even the way to go if you are on vacation unless you envision the train ride as
part of the joy of your time off.
For me, I haven’t been on a train
in about twenty years. The last train I rode was in Europe, and that was an
entirely different “high speed” experience.
Driving down the west coast was
always on my mental list of dream things I’d like to do one day when I had
time. When my friend suggested this train trip, I jumped for joy like a girl
again. It would be better than taking a car. I’d get to spend quality
time with my friend, chat, doze, play games, read… we could eat in the dining
car—another dream experience for me—and watch the scenery change from urban to
rural, flatland to mountain, field to forest.
Trains are romantic, and an aura
of déjà vu cloaks them in a mystique that belongs to bygone times. As we move
ever faster in our very functional world, we risk losing appreciation for
things that take time. We can even forget that it isn’t always about getting
from A to B, but sometimes it’s about the journey itself.
When I was invited to contribute
a short story to Volume 1 of A Holiday Anthology by Exquisite
Quills, my summer train ride came to mind right away and my contribution, Shooting
Star Holiday Express, was born. This time I saw the journey
as a winter trip. Bella White and her daughter Julie were traveling south to
San Francisco for Christmas. Julie doesn’t know her mom just lost her job, and
Bella doesn’t have the heart to cancel the trip. Since her husband died,
nothing has brought a sparkle to Julie’s eyes except this train trip. Christmas
magic blends with train magic when something unexpected happens on their
journey.
If you like a slightly longer
read, I’ve written an autumn novella, AutumnMasquerade, and a Christmas ghost love story, Christmas Spirits.
Do you have a train trip to
share with us?
10 comments:
Thanks for having me, Anastasia and Serena! The post looks lovely!
What a beautiful post, Gemma! Like you, I love the romance of train journeys. Afew years ago I did a train trip around Europe. I would really love to do the train trip you describe, across the States. I enjoyed your Anthology story very much!
Hi, Gemma,
I haven't traveled by train except NY subway by many years. You remind me how lovely it can be. The holiday anthology is a fine one. Congrats.
Supper story, Gemma! I know because I read it!
I've never had a long train ride. Just on the Reading Railroad from where I lived into Philadelphia. And it was always special when I went for a Christmas outing with my mother. Wearing my good wool coat and naturally my white gloves, we'd go into town, see the sights, the Christmas displays, and have lunch in the tea room. It was a magical day!
Great post. I love riding the train. When my daughter was much younger, we rode the trains to visit my parents. It's an 8 hr trip. She could play. I could relax.
I loved your story in the anthology :-)
Great post! I love train rides. I haven't done much more than the occasional ride to Chicago but when I was a girl my older sister and I took a 4 day trip to California on the California Zephyr -- a streamlined and classy ride. It had a dome car and I spent all my time looking at the scenery and starry skies. Thanks for the memory.
I agree, Helena, there is a mysterious sense of romance attached to train travel.
So nice of you to visit, Jacqueline. I'm glad you enjoyed the anthology.
Thanks, E! I enjoyed your story too! Sounds like you have magical memories associated with your early train rides.
Hi Victoria, I think train travel is a relaxed and enjoyable way to travel with children.
Rose, I did the same on the train - stared out at the scenery and starry skies by night. Sounds like a lovely journey you enjoyed with your older sister. Thanks for sharing.
Gemma,
Your train trip story in the Holiday Anthology is touching and left me with a wonderfully warm 'ahhhh' feeling. ;-) My one and only train trip was a round-trip excursion with a friend. It started in Lamar, Colorado and ended in Kingman, Arizona, which was about a 20 hour trip. It was great fun for all the reasons you've already shared. The return trip ended in Las Vegas, New Mexico (5 hours from Lamar) where we became stranded because of a washed out bridge foundation ahead of us. It was quite the experience that I'll someday use as the plot of a romance novel. ;-)
Great covers and wonderful post! Tweeted.
Hi Kaye, Now you've got me wondering how you made it home after being stranded in Las Vegas, NM. Yours was a true adventure! I'm sure the scenery on that route was amazing.
Hi Andrea, Thanks for your kind words and for the tweet!
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