One of the things I liked about living in the great state of Illinois was that not just one, but several radio stations played rhythm and blues 24/7. I would drive along maple-lined streets, past tidy houses with wraparound porches, and out through the regular lines of industrialized cornfields. The view was one thing, the soundtrack was entirely different, and yet both were local.
Sometimes I would ride from Chicago to Champaign by train. At Union Station, people were on their way to Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York. They were dressed very properly, with nice bags and hats. They stood waiting for their trains in orderly formation.
I never needed a track number to know where my train would come in. I could spot the passengers from blocks off, sitting and standing in a disorganized group. They had boxes and duffle bags and unconventional clothes. Grandmothers in turbans. Black men dressed all in white, flashing mouths full of gold. Mediterranean looking writer types.
When the train was ready, the conductor would come out to call us. I liked the way he rolled off the names of the stops. “Kankakee, Champaign, Carbondale, Illinois! Memphis, Tennessee! Greenwood, Mississippi! Hammond, Louisiana! And finally: New Orleans, New Orleans!
As I say, I always got off at Champaign, but I enjoyed the ride. I looked at the street names written on the passengers’ boxes – names like Miro, Dufossat, Clouet, Pleasure. I imagined the neighborhoods standing before my eyes. For the length of the journey I felt as though I, too, were going home.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
What a poetic entry. I got chills. One could almost say it is Tennesseeian (Williams). My oldest daughter’s first train ride was from New Orleans to Houston. She thought it was so great. “Large crunchy Croutons in the dining cart!” (for her salad), that is what she still tells me to this day.
Thanks for the story.
Coming from the west coast, I never had the opportunity to ride a train, or any other public transportation, for that matter.
Now that I live in southern California, the situation is even worse.
Sort of reminds me of another excellent Utah Phillips song entitled, “Daddy, What’s A Train?”
Melissa, I don’t know where you are, but there is a normal route from San Diego to Sana Barbara. Its long, I will admit that, no beautiful rivers like in the South, but it is in itself an experience. Just make sure you do not get on Express time, it does not always stop at every station. Actually now that I think about it, I have rode from San Juan Capitrano (have no clue how to spell that) to L.A before and it was a nice ride, actually to Annaheim. The station is right at the Angels Stadium.
About that Express times, I got burned trying to go from Orange County to San Clemente, –Camp Pendleton (I was on a military exercise). It was after nine pm so my choice of stops were San Juan Capitrano or San Diego. I chose San Juan and had to paid a cab to get me to Pendleton. Sigh. Oh and riding backwards makes me seasick.
Oh good, it felt poetic! The train from SD to SB is or should be the Coast Starlight, used to be called the Coast Daylight, my grandmother would come down to visit us on it, from Carmel. I’ve never taken it in SoCal, but views should be good coming around the Rincon as you get towards SB.
I took this same train last summer from Portland to Eugene, Oregon, but the great trains on the West Coast are on the Cascades Line (Oregon, Washington, BC). They are Spanish trains, the exact same cars I rode in years ago from Madrid to Barcelona, and they have that understated European comfort and a good view, and there are rivers.
yes, I can vouch for the beauty of the coastal route in So Cal -and the different beauties it reveals when it swings inland toward the city of angels.
trains…
Hello professor! I thought DC had a lot of R&B stations until I went to Chicago. They even have an all day FM Gospel station. I love train rides. I get some of my best thinking done during the ride.
It sounds like I need to make a trip to the coast!
I’m stuck in between Blythe and San Bernardino.
😦
Melissa, from your area, there is a driving trip, up the Owens Valley to Lone Pine and Bishop. The eastern Sierra Nevada is stark and beautiful.
I love trains. I used to live with a train freak (model trains) and we took trains everywhere, especially if it was possible to take a sleeper car. I haven’t taken a train in the US for years though. Maybe it’s time to look for a fun local overnight trip. Minneapolis-Chicago?
Professor, thank you for the tip! Sounds like a wonderful long weekend trip once finals are over in December!