My theme for the A to Z Challenge: Desert Canyon Living
T could also be for trucks, which, in addition to trains, travel through Tehachapi in huge numbers each day. It's all about transporting goods from northern California and the San Joaquin Valley
I love trains so much, my husband knows and gave me this book for a birthday present a few years ago. It tells the story of how the rails were laid across the Tehachapi mountains , how the Tehachapi Loop came to be, and the history of trains in this area. The book is also full of very interesting, historical, photos of trains. This was a perfect gift that I had no idea my husband would find for me.
If you don't take the highway to town, you may have to stop at this railroad crossing. Something I never seem to mind.
This is the rebuilt railroad depot in town. The orgininal building was in the process of being renovated, firesprinklers were going to be installed that week, when on one summer's night in 2008, two drunks playing with firecrackers set the historic 100-year old building ablaze. The town pulled together and rebuilt it and it now serves as a museum.
The first winter we had our place, my husband took this sequence of photos of an approaching train. I have always loved the mood of these pictures, so I will share them without commentary.
At night, in the quiet right before I fall asleep, I often hear trains blow their whistles about four miles away and I dream about far away places.
Falling asleep to the distant sound of a train whistle is such a literary and cinematic image-very cool.
ReplyDeleteI've always been intrigued by the fact trains wove their way through that canyon. I always remember looking down from the air while we flew over for the trains.
ReplyDeleteI completely know the feeling! There is something about the rumble and sounds of the train. That is something I truly missed when we moved out to the country!
ReplyDeleteI love trains & train whistles. There used to be a train that ran right by our beach house to the pier--the tracks were only about 10-20 feet away. It was little & reminded me of a "Toonerville Trolley". You could wave at the conductor & he'd wave back. I miss it.
ReplyDeletei do love the sound of trains at night. their whistles almost echo in the stillness... :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a neat post. The train whistle in a distance is a lonely call at night. I used to have a handyman who had been a hobo who rode the rails. We were working in the yard once and he could name every train that we heard in the distance. He said every time he heard a whistle he wanted to pack up and leave. Guess it was like call of the wild. Ha
ReplyDeleteUntil you posted this I didn't realize that the whole time I have been in tiny town Arkansas, I have not seen or heard a train. Goodness, you would hate it here.
ReplyDeleteDear friend you reach the dearest wishes to you and your family a happy and peaceful Easter,ad maiora Elettra
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love trains--especially we (me) of the Older Generation.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment just now on my blog. I was just about to close down for the night, but glad I didn't. These are awesome photographs.
May you and yours have a wonderful Easter Sunday.
Ann Carbine Best, Memoir Author
p.s. Here in Harrisonburg, Virginia, we hear train whistles every day. We live next to railroad tracks that bring trains to a manufacturing feed plant that's located just behind us. It's blocked by trees so it isn't a visual intrusion. And the occasional train whistles aren't either. They take me back...
ReplyDeleteI love the whistle of the train! We hear it at our place and hope they never stop it coming thru our town!
ReplyDeleteThere is such history, romance, and magic with trains. Such iconic images here today.
ReplyDeleteTrains are fun to watch. When I was a child we lived next to a train track, and we never were bothered by the rattling of the walls. Today I don't think I would be happy with that. When I was 8 I went across the country with my mom and dad on a train to Iowa from California. It was so thrilling for me to go from car to car. My mom told me to stay put because they might dissconnect the cars and I will get lost. But it didn't stop me, I still went. Eating on the train was the days of being waited on by waiters in white coats.
ReplyDeleteYour photos brought back that memory to me, Thanks for a great post.
Trains are great. I think I learnt a love for them from my brother.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasant thought, Inger...falling asleep dreaming of distant places...:)JP
ReplyDeleteAs a child, I used to put a coin on the train tracks to see it get smashed to a big, flat, funny coin after the train went by. Later in life I learned that this play could have been dangerous. Children's innocence.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a very Happy Easter, Inger.
Love ya!
Ahhh, I love trains as well and someday I hope to take an Amtrak to parts unknown; just becuase!
ReplyDeleteThe resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. ~Robert Flatt
Have a wonderfully splendid Easter!
How do you pronounce Tehachapi?
ReplyDeleteI also love the mournful tones of train horns - as long as they are somewhat removed! We once camped about 100 feet from a railroad track. Since there was a road crossing there each and every train had to sound its horn. We didn't get much sleep!
The train that takes us to New York City goes next to the Hudson ( I mean the tracks) The view is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteGood post, Inger. When my kids were little we lived directly above where the steam locomotive would go past each day around noon. As soon as I'd hear the trains whistle I'd scoop my youngest one up, and my boys would follow as we raced to the bridge to watch the train chug beneath us. Then we'd head for home picking the black coal pieces from our hair. We love trains.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all your comments. I enjoyed reading about your love and experiences with trains.--Inger
ReplyDeleteyour post reminds of george bailey's quote from it's a wonderful life discribing the three most exciting sounds in the world:
ReplyDeleteanchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles.
:o)