Have You Ever Been On A Train?
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64354)
United Kingdom
February 21, 2016 11:10am CST
Some time ago I wrote about riding on a steam train in my childhood, and what struck me about the reaction to that post was the number of Americans who said that they had never been on a train, steam or otherwise
I remember with pleasure those steam trains, the snuffling, snorting and hissing of that great beast as it prepared to move, then the whistling as it got under way.
I loved sitting in the carriage watching the fields and towns rush past the windows as I was transported faster than I'd ever gone in my life. Then there was the distinctive noise of the train passing over the tracks - clackety-clack, clackety-clack.
Of course, modern trains are completely different now, but I should think that most British people have been on a train at some time or other, even if they aren't regular users. I would imagine that is true for most nationalities, but apparently not for Americans.
America has one of the largest rail networks in the world, but I've read that it's mainly used for freight. I wonder why this is - is it because gas is cheap (compared to Britain anyway), so most people use cars? Or perhaps their domestic air travel is cheap and more convenient?
How about you - have you ever been on a train?
101 people like this
114 responses
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
21 Feb 16
Obviously I have travelled greatly via rail and when I was younger I even travelled to the Channel Islands and Amsterdam by rail and ferry.
It is strange that Britain does not utilise the rail network more for freight because we have an excellent network and fuel prices for vehicles are quite high here.
10 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
22 Feb 16
I have traveled through trains many times but not steam ones. I also love hearing that clackety-clack noise that you mentioned... Traveling through trains is unavoidable here in India mostly. In fact, most of the general public go to their work place through the locals.
And if you ever happen to come to India, I would request you to NOT to travel through trains... You won't find it suitable. Travel through air or rent a vehicle would be better suited. And if you can't avoid it then you will have to book your seats months in advance... That can tell you how busy railway network is here...
P. S. Why am I always so darn late on your post? Whenever I come over to read and comment, there are already more than 30 comments before me. Today its 52. I want to be in first 10 of your commenters/visitors/readers one day...
9 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 16
@Daljinder I've seen pictures and films of people hanging off the back and sides of your trains, so I agree - I don't think I'd want to join them
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Regarding being late to my posts - what does it matter as long as you get here in the end?
. Thank you for coming.
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Regarding being late to my posts - what does it matter as long as you get here in the end?. Thank you for coming.4 people like this
@Scindhia (1906)
• India
22 Feb 16
@Daljinder We do have some decent trains like Shatabdi or the Rajastani Royal train. I mean decent by our standards 
5 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
22 Feb 16
@Scindhia By our standards... We live here so we are accustom to it. But foreigners and those who aren't from here won't find them up to par... I, myself don't...
5 people like this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
21 Feb 16
I've been o n atrain many times. I've been o a steam train too, and I can just remember them going through the town I lived in when I was maybe 5 or 6 before all the railways were torn up by beeching in the late 60's/70's.
9 people like this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
21 Feb 16
@jaboUK The Train from San Francisco to Chico was wonderful sooooooo much better the the trains in the UK, nice and comfortable :) The only draw with that train it was never on time, all the times I caught. I will never complain about trains being late in the UK.
Once I we were getting the train from San Francisco at 9:30pm to go to Chico arriving there around 1:30 in the morning. well the train never turned up until almost midnight, getting into Chico just before 6am. it was going very slow.
You have so much more space, the the recline so much and you can have a wonderful sleep. I would love to travel from New York to San francisco by train.
8 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
21 Feb 16
@kevin1877uk Recliners on a train sound good, but not the unpunctuality.
7 people like this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
24 Feb 16
@jaboUK But all trains are not Orient Expresses.You ''may'' reach your destination after all.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
21 Feb 16
I haven't used the train for a while now, but it's great to just sit there and watch the countryside go by, without having the worry of driving, isn't it? But I definitely wouldn't want to be on an Agatha Christie train - I want to reach my destination alive, thank you
6 people like this
@celticeagle (165954)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Feb 16
Yes, I have ridden on a train several times. Would love to ride one to New Orleans and then take one straight up to Michigan and go to the Mackinac Island.
4 people like this
@celticeagle (165954)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Feb 16
@jaboUK.....I certainly hope that I do. It is quite a dream of mine.
2 people like this
@much2say (55318)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Feb 16
We have trains and railroads all around us here. But I've never taken the train myself! I guess we prefer to take our own cars wherever we go. We DO want to take a trip on a train - it's possible to go to our favorite local destinations via train, but for some reason we have just never gotten around it. However, we've gone on plenty of kiddie train rides and been to historic train museums to see and be aboard ol' steam trains.
3 people like this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
21 Feb 16
@jaboUK I have traveled many times by train while I was younger.During childhood especially while traveling by train, I used to look out at all the fields,the cattle and the trees whizzing by.
3 people like this
@silvermist (19702)
• India
21 Feb 16
@jaboUK That is the third class compartments.We can book for First class Air conditioned coaches and then you can travel comfortably without crowds. During those times A/C trains were rare.But there were no big crowds.In A/C coaches we will miss looking out,seeing the scenery our faces sticking out of the window , with the wind on our faces.When I was a kid ,I used to like that.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
21 Feb 16
@silvermist It sounds fun when you were a kid.
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
21 Feb 16
Train travel can be so relaxing! I think the longest single journey I've ever made has been from Hamburg in the north of Germany to Basel on the Swiss/German border, about 7hours' travel. The first long journey I made was from the Reggio di Calabria, in the toe of Italy to Milan, but I think there were two changes of train, once in Naples, once in Rome.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Feb 16
I rode trains a lot as a kid and loved it. The US lack of rail travel is largely due to the Big Oil lobby that has always held sway in our Congress. Money they contribute to politicians has always prevented adequate government funding for rail travel. That is why our Amtrack passenger rail system is so anemic.
4 people like this
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
@JamesHxstatic I thought is may have more to do with the speed of flight, getting across country in hours rather than days.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Feb 16
@pgiblett There would be room for flight and rail travel, but the lack of funding for a real national rail service has always kept it from happening. That is one reason our highways are so crowded with commuters too.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
21 Feb 16
My first train ride was with my Grandma to New York City when I was five. We took our sons into New York City by train once. I took it a third time by myself to my daughter in law's bachelorette party. I think I have been on more trains in Europe than here. My son always took the train in when he worked in Manhattan and came home for visits. We prefer the convenience of driving, but trains are fun.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 16
Driving your own car is more convenient, but when I was a child we didn't have that luxury. The train trips were really exciting.
I suppose nowadays they are more just a means of getting from A to B.
Your comment bears out what I said about Americans not using the train much, as you can quite clearly remember the three journeys you took. I couldn't even begin to count mine.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338653)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Feb 16
@Marty1 Steam trains burn coal but most modern ones are either electric and are connected to overhead power lines or run on diesel. The steam trains here are only used for tourist outings. If I can find a photo I'll do a post about it. Can't find a photo at the moment.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Feb 16
I have been on many trains. The train from my area to Chicago is used by many people for their daily commute. I and my hubby and kids flew to Oregon some years ago. After our visit there we hopped on a train to go to southern California to visit family. We were on the train for a day and a half, we had sleeper cars, and had 4 meals on the train all part of the cost of the ticket. It was nice but by the time we arrived in California I was ready to get off. My two sons had a ball on that train.
3 people like this
@allknowing (135314)
• India
24 Feb 16
Was it Amtrak? I have gone by that train may be the same route too.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Feb 16
@jaboUK Yes the train traveled along the west coast so we saw the ocean a good part of the trip. My kids enjoyed the trip, I was so ready to be done. It was way to long for my liking as well.
2 people like this
@marguicha (222364)
• Chile
22 Feb 16
I remember as if it was now the first time I rode on a train. I was around 5 years old an it had a coal engine. When we opened the window and got our arms out, the small bits of coal would sting.
After that, I have been in several trains from old trains that are not very fast to the fastest train, one that took us from Madrid to Malaga in hours.
The experience is a lot better that being in a car or in an airplane.
2 people like this
@marguicha (222364)
• Chile
22 Feb 16
@jaboUK I wish I could remember the new phone numbers as well as I remember what countries were against Napoleon when he was defeated
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
22 Feb 16
@marguicha Join the club! I can't remember what I did last week.
2 people like this
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
21 Feb 16
I do remember, fondly, many journeys in a steam train, they were, looking back, historic - but I also remember feeling grimy and dirty at the end of the trip. That said when British Rail replaced the steam engines with electric locomotives the carriages were no cleaner. Modern trains in Canada are diesel locomotives - they just don't look the same.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (470746)
• Switzerland
22 Feb 16
I suppose that the train is not very used by American because their distances are not exactly as our European distances. It takes several days to go from New York to Los Angeles by train, while you can get there in 4 hours by plane. I have taken the train so many times in Italy when I was young. We had no cars when I was a child.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (470746)
• Switzerland
24 Feb 16
@ivyparkgirl It is far, but not as far as Los Angeles New York of course.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36318)
• Canada
22 Feb 16
@jaboUK We drive and pull RVs. It is rare not to own a car, almost unheard of. Now people do use commuter trains in the big cities and suburbs like Toronto. But here there is just not the concentration of people to offer train service. There is a train that goes across Canada but it is very very expensive to make that trip.
2 people like this
@adarshvsrinivasan (97)
• Chennai, India
22 Feb 16
I have been on a steam train. I am from India and it was just today that i joined myLot. In south India, there is hill station called Ooty which is a few 100 kms from a metropolitan city called Coimbatore. There is only one train from Coimbatore to Ooty. Guess what, that is a STEAM TRAIN. It was so much fun travelling in it while enjoying the greenery and scenery along the way. It was a 6 hour journey by train whereas it would take only 2-3 hours in car, but many people are willing to take the train to enjoy their travel, the tickets will always be reserved and it is very hard to get one. Once you get into the train, you will not wish to get down again.
3 people like this
@adarshvsrinivasan (97)
• Chennai, India
22 Feb 16
@jaboUK Travelling in steam trains have always brought a smile in everyone's faces when the hear the hustling and bustling from the train. And thanks a lot for greeting me. I am hoping too. Thanks again.
3 people like this
