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| I'm headed down to Virginia to celebrate the New Year with friends and family. No, I'm not going by train, but this made me think of childhood trips down there by car (before they built the Interstate!). One time we had to stop at a railroad crossing while a freight train passed by— and passed by and passed by. We counted hundreds of cars on that one train! [To see more Skywatch, go here.] |
Friday, December 30, 2011
Skywatch Friday
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Oh man. I’m listening to an Amtrak whistle in the distance at the moment.
ReplyDeleteTraveling before the interstates was the best. The Burma Shave signs posted on wooden stakes staggered along the roadside were fun.
We had a trailer with an ice box (literally) and would stop at coin-operated, ice-block vending machines when the milk started to get warm. Recently I have been remembering the series of clunks, clacks, thumps, and "KABAM" when those blocks came tobogganing down the chute. You wanted to keep your fingers well away from those suckers as they rammed into the stop. Still do, I guess.
Up until recently (maybe I have been lucky) there had been a couple train crossing here, where if you didn’t let out a sigh of relief when you saw it was a passenger train, you were best off turning the engine off and going fetal until the silence of the no-longer-clanging crossing bell woke you up. Ten minutes on average of a wait.
On those long rural two-lanes my nascent testosterone soared when our Chevy would outpace a rolling freight train beside us; which your image triggered the synaptic refirings of. “We’re winning. C’mon Nellie!”
Being a New Yorker I guess you get your kicks at the Radio City Music Hall. But man, in those days we got our kicks on...
Speaking of Chevys on Route 66.
Bon voyage et bon vacances.
Have a great time on your trip. Trains make for an interesting sight on the horizon.
ReplyDeleteI love American trains and their great look and sound!
ReplyDeleteBy the way... Virginia is for Lovers, isn't It?
Those trains sure are hypnotic! Lovely shot.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year
Great train shot, but the clouds really grabbed my attention! Happy new year!
ReplyDeleteOh, I like this...it reminds me of some painter's work, but who? Can't recall.
ReplyDeleteBonne annee, ma chere Alexa!
Super capture!!
ReplyDeleteI remember counting the cars of long trains, too, as we waited at the crossing. And always waving at the man in the caboose.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours!