There's just something special about a train.
The clickety clack, rhythmic sound, of a train coming down the track, and the sound of the whistle off in the distance, will always stir up excitement. Age doesn't seem to matter; we all love trains.
Recently, David and I got to be part of the excitement, and can verify this, as we followed the Union Pacific 4014 Big Boy, Worlds Largest Steam Locomotive's, rare event of traveling though Missouri. It's the world's only operating Big Boy. There are seven more on display only in museums.
I don't have space to tell you all about it, but you can check it out.
We had decided to get up early, pack a picnic, and be there in Hermann Missouri, as it made a short stop for viewing. As we neared the town, we could see we may need to change our plans. The streets were full, and people were parked on all the side streets in town.
Everyone was packing lawn chairs headed for the park, where we usually picnic. It is close to the railroad station. and has parking spots, but was now roped off. Because of David's COPD, we couldn't walk , so we begin to change our strategy .
Our next stop was the little town of Gasconade. There were only a few older people at the crossing, set up with their cameras, so we found a place with a good view, out of the way, and parked. The train would not be stopping here, but there was a long view with it coming around the bend. It would be maybe a couple hours wait.
Meanwhile people of all ages began arriving. Some with only their cell phones to take pictures with, and some with very large expensive cameras. It was interesting just observing human character and how people react.
One man kept walking around studying a tall pole, a control for the bell crossing, along the railroad track, and trying to decide if he should climb it with his camera. We kept watching and laughing, wondering what he was going to do. Most of the people set up along the road that leads to the crossing where they could get a good view as it came.
But the strangest thing was that there were people, that had all be waiting, and setup with camera's everywhere for an hour or so in the sun, then people would come at the last minute, and stand in their way! The worse thing I witnessed was a man and woman who walked in, and stood right in front of the cameras. Someone asked if they could move over. They did, but the woman wasn't happy...
Then they stood in front of the elderly people that had been there the entire time with cameras on tripods. The older man asked them to move over to the side. Oh Boy! She was very angry and started yelling, "I just hate just hate, rude people!" If it wasn't so sad, it would be funny. She was the one rude! Her husband never said a word.
Everyone was excited when the train rounded the bend with the whistle blowing and conductor waving at the crowd. We were very close and it was so loud! Remember the feeling when you were a child at a parade and you could feel the drums in your chest? It was great!
David has always loved trains and knows some information about them. As a young boy living at Bluffton, his dad was a railroad man, so David knows lots of stories.
Although we have rode a train before, the memory I will always cherish was of the one in South Dakota that our oldest son Daniel, and our daughter-in-law, Camilla, took us on.
It has been several years ago we got the call from our children in Tennessee. "We want you to get packed up," they said. "We are taking you on a vacation trip." David said, "Well, we will think about it." Daniel said "No, just get ready and you don't need a dime!" They told us when they would be coming with their three children and pick us up. They had everything planned and paid for, real nice places, like honeymoon cabins, to stay in as we traveled, already set for our arrival.
It was better than any that people win on those TV shows!
We went to South Dakota and visited everything there was to see. Every day they had a new adventure planned ahead. We visited an old western town, complete with chuck wagon supper and music. They know we love westerns.
Then they had already made plans to take us on a train ride too. That stands out in my memory. It had open windows where you could see out as you rode through the hills. I'll never forget the smell of the coal smoke and hearing the whistle! That hooked me on trains I suppose.
Back to Big Boy, the following morning David said, "Get ready if you want to go train chasing Big Boy again, where we may get a place to park and view." I put the Big Boy on my phone and we began tracking its movement.
David and I headed on toward Sedalia where the train would be making a brief stop. The train was a little ahead of us so we decided we better not take time to look for the station, but head on to Knob Noster where it would pass through. We also had planed to visit Whiteman Air Force Base and see the fascinating B2's again.
After we passed by Sedalia we came upon cars parked as far as you could see along the highway. David said, "They are waiting for Big Boy!" So we found an empty space and pulled in. There was a good view and lots of excited people visiting and watching up the track.
We were not disappointed. Here it came, whistle blowing, and again waving at the crowd. We got some great pictures and movies too. I wondered why it slowed to an unscheduled stop. I had the movie going when we found out why. It had stopped to let a modern passenger train pass by, so we got it all on video.
Next we drove on to Warrensburg. We wondered if we could catch it again as it made it's scheduled stop. Wow! The whole town had turned out for this event. The train was already there, and there were at least a thousand people in each direction, standing at the station. From older folks to little children, everyone seemed excited and having a good time. We circled by and took some pictures.
David said, "I think we better head back in our direction now, don't you think?" I said yes, "But what about Whiteman, I want to see the B2's?" He said, "We better make that another days adventure, this has been a full day." I agreed, but like a kid, I always don't want to give up the adventure.
After we was home I was so glad he made that call. I was exhausted! We did have a great day, and got a lot of good pictures, and made more memories from this episode for our "Pages of Life."
I don't like to end on a sad note, but as I write this, our sweet and thoughtful children, Daniel and Camilla, are both suffering with COVID-19.
Prayers are always appreciated.