Chasing steam

When we found out, it was too late, and we (my sister, brother in law, and I) were already scheduled to be at the airport dropping Dave off at about the same time the time that the SP 4449 ("the Daylight") was due to pass through the suburbs on a rare mid-western excursion run.

We just assumed we would have to miss it, and had hoped to catch it on it's return voyage back west in a week or so.

Well, my sister called my brother, after we dropped Dave off, and he told us that the excursion run was running VERY late, so we found out that we DID have the time to go "chase steam."

As it turned out, not only did we have time, but we got to a prime location, and stood by the tracks and waited for a good 90 minutes before the locomotive got to where it was supposed to be!

She was almost 2 hours behind her time. We met my brother and sister in law by the tracks, and visited while we waited.

Finally, the other spectators started to say "here she comes" and "it's on it's way"...and oh. my. god.
I heard the whistle before I could even really see what was coming.

A beautifully restored and maintained locomotive, "the Daylight" is a classic full size northern (4-8-4- wheel configuration) with 80 inch driving wheels.

Probably one of the most famous locomotives still running. or, I should say "running again," because she sat cold in a park for a lot of years before a wealthy enthusiast restored her, and put her back to steam, to pull the "Freedom Train" back in the mid 70's.

She's got a partially streamlined chasis, painted bright red and orange, and was built in 1941. Her permanent residence is Portland, Oregon.

She had not been through the mid-west since her Freedom Train days.

I saw her back then, but I had forgotten it was her, because there were OTHER things about the Freedom Train that stayed in my memories....like the costumes worn by Redford and Newman in 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid!' and The Ruby Slippers!!

Anyway....she pulled into Naperville, and sat for a few minutes before moving on.

Sigh....it's amazing what a gigantic steam locomotive can do for my mood!
The deep bells of the whistle, the intense rumble under our feet as she passed, and, of course, the black smoke and powerful chug.....chug....chug....as she pulled out of the station.

It brings about a full body shudder in me, and mists up my eyes.

Somewhere, there is an ancient home movie of me, in a stroller, next to a railroad track. The camera changes between me and the approaching train on the track.

Little P in the stroller, sitting still, watching.

Cut to a distant light, and plume of steam.

Back to Little P in the stroller....

Back and forth...and as the train approached, it's steam plume growing larger in the sky....Little P in the stroller is OVERCOME WITH EXCITEMENT!

I can be seen kicking my feet, and pounding my hands on the stroller's "guard rail," with a huge, toothless grin on my face. Absolutely wiggly with the thrill of the moment!!

I get still get that feeling every time I see a steam locomotive. The sounds, the smells, and the sights, raise the goose bumps on my skin, make my heart pound, and bring tears to my eyes.

Yeah. I'm goofy that way. But, at least it runs in my family, and I can blame it on that!

I am still missing my husband, and heart-broken over yet another departure, but my goose bumps had goose bumps, and I was literally jumping up and down like a little girl as the giant engine pulled past.

Wow.

*shiver*

http://www.sp4449.com/


In other news, we had a wonderful and much needed vacation in Michigan, and we made some decisions that will impact other things as the next couple of months go by.

I will be in Oklahoma by October, regardless of if my home is sold, or rented, or just left vacant.

I have done everything possible to try to make this work out the best for myself, financially, and I have failed. The process has failed.

And I can't DO this anymore.

It's time to "punt."

More on that at a later time.