Riding The Rails With My Uncle

September 14, 2009

Kevin recalls the Western Pacific line and writes:

I was just a little snapper when my Great Uncle Alma Jones who was a conductor on the Western Pacific line took me from Reno to Portola, California. He always wore a fine blue uniform with a vest and everyone knew he was in charge.

I loved riding the train throught the Feather River Canyon and seeing the people in the little towns and so many animals near the tracks enroute.

When he retired from the railroad he flush his false teath down the toilet because he hated wearing them I said to him “Uncle Alma, how are you going to chew your food”? He replied “I don’t need to chew Jack Daniels and Coke a Cola. Ha!

I am still amazed by the size of the engines and the beautiful accomodations of the passenger and dining cars. It was such a civilized way to travel and you didn’t have some yelling at you to “sit down, shut up and buckle up!”