My grandmother’s brother, Uncle Jule, lived next to the Central of Georgia Railroad track that ran through the middle of Oconee, GA. As a child, I visited him and Aunt Eula a few times. Main street separated his picket fence from the railroad track. I remember the Central of Georgia locomotive 509 whooshing by; the deafening sound of its six-wheel steeldrivers pumping mightily. It was awesome. It was the beginning of my fascination with trains.
Almost in the blink of an eye, diesel locomotives replaced the old steam engines. Or so it seemed. I Never lived near a railroad track, and when Uncle Jule died, the transition of locomotive types missed my attention—but not my fascination with trains. Over the years, I became friends with a few people whose fathers were railroad men. Their stories kept the magic of trains alive for me—that and the memories of model train pages in the Sears Christmas book.
The haunting verses of Gordon Lightfoot’s In the Early Morning Rain bring those memories back fresh for me;—“Hear the mighty engines roar,” he sang, —-(although he was talking about a Jet plane), his refrain makes memories of trains fresh for me, as he continues, You can’t jump a jet plane like you can a freight train
So, I’d best be on my way in the early morning rain…You can’t jump a jet plane like you can a freight train, So, I’d best be on my way in the early morning rain.
A few years ago I opened a Christmas gift from Paige; It was the biggest surprise I could have imagined; A Lionel Model Train set! –complete with smoke and authentic sound. For the next few years it graced our den at Christmas time encircling the Christmas tree. Sometimes I would lie on the floor by the Christmas tree, (yes, the adult-child me) relishing the locomotive churning around its circular track with smoke streaming and the Train Whistle wailing.
The experience is something of a bittersweet sense of joy and melancholy. Yale University psychology professor Laurie Santos, said Scenarios that often trigger a happy-sad state include bittersweet events like graduations or a move to a new city for a job — situations when you’re sad about leaving, but happy about new opportunities, she noted. Endings that are also beginnings make these “emotionally-rich” events, Larsen added.
I know what she means; I now live in Atlanta, GA. On clear nights around bedtime, after the traffic subsides, while sitting on my deck, I frequently hear a train whistle in the night. It is an “emotionally-rich” experience. Usually I recall those railroad friends, images of Uncle Jule’s clapboard house in Oconee, GA, Sears catalog pages, and Paige’s surprising gift.
Emotionally-rich experiences are gifts to be cherished. Usually they cannot be programmed: the surprise gift to old Abraham and Sarah. was such an experience; Abraham, a nonagenarian, and Sarah, an octogenarian close behind him in age, had never had a child. Each in turn, laughed upon hearing this; in their old age, they would have a child of their own. As the saying goes, “You can’t make that stuff up!” —especially the emotionally-rich part.
©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2022
I wonder if the train whistle you hear late at night is the one in Tucker (near Lawrenceville Highway)? I know you are near Briarcliff Road now, but late at night you could probably hear it, even that faraway. In Blairsville, where I grew up, there were no trains. The closest station was in Cleveland, “across the mountain”. I love that Paige gave you a model train for Christmas, so that the adult/child version of Willis could enjoy a special gift you would never have bought for yourself!
Thank you Dottie! When I opened that train set, I almost shouted–“I’ve wanted one of these since I was ten years old!” It thrilled Paige that she had “run the bell” with that gift. She even tolerated my gushing over it. Yes, it is that train alongside Lawrenceville highway. Many times, I sit outside enjoying the night sounds (as I said, traffic is down then), and I hear hoot owls, crickets, and then, often in the distance I hear the train whistle. Lee Fullerton’s father was a locomotive engineer– he has regaled me with stories of his dad. And Paige taught with a lady whose husband was a railroad man. Also, Barbara Fields, who married my college roommate—I performed the ceremony– –amd Paige were in college with me. We’ve kept in touch over the years. I was Barbara’s pastor in my last pastorate, and therefore our children know each other, and share FB stuff. Life has interesting intersections and blessings. I know Al was an engineer—-but a different kind–tee hee!
I’, glad we all keep in touch, it blesses me.
I gave David’s Lionel train set to Joey my Son-in-law as Jay was never a train person
I grew up near a railroad track in Atkinson. I think four trains ran from Waycross to Brunswick in my earlier years. Later the train runs were cut by two. Somehow the train whistle was kinda’ a reassuring sound. I still like to hear and see the trains, which as you may remember are plentiful in Jesup! ❤️❤️