Trains

There are certain times of the morning when I try to avoid being on the road. I usually try and leave my house before 5:20 am so I don't get caught waiting for the morning train. It doesn't travel the tracks every day, but its never specific days either. (I'm wondering now if it rolls through every third day or something.) Today, however, I went a different way to work, as I wanted to drive by a house for sale. After driving past, I turned the corner to head to work. Up ahead, I could see the train track arms just beginning to lower, the red flashing lights start flashing. And quick as a wink, I turn left, and try and beat the train to the next stop. *sigh* I didn't.

So I sat there behind a car as the train crossed in front of me, quite slowly.

Then it stopped.

With train cars blocking the roadway.

The red flashing lights just keep on blinking.

As I wondered how long this would take, the train reversed direction.

It was backing the way it had just come.

The train's engine begins to whine and creak

as it attempted to push those cars backwards.

And it stopped .... Unable to go further? I wondered.


It rolled forward again, coming to a stop in the same place as before. And began the process of backing up yet again. The train's engine creaks and whines, and it is unable to completely push the cars backwards enough for the train to clear the crossing.


By this time, I'd had enough, and made a u-turn, I didn't want to be late for work! As I zoomed over to the next street and turned, I glanced down the tracks as I crossed them, and saw that front headlight still shining, and still in the same spot.


And of course, I wondered all day at work just how long the rest of the cars waited there for the train to finish what it was attempting to do.... Some days, you just have to make a decision!

HUGS to everyone!