When I’m not on-the-air I sit in a cubicle in the vast FoxCT/Hartford Courant newsroom. I’m about fifteen feet from the window. I am beckoned to that window a few times every day when a train rolls by. I can’t resist.
What is it with boys and trains? Why does the train’s whistle (mandatory as it passes the grade crossing adjacent to our building) irresistibly bring me to my feet?
I wish I knew!
Considering it’s a single track this is a busy line with both freight and passengers. A few times day we’ll get one of Amtrak’s long distance runs heading north to Vermont or the Northeast Regional service between Washington and Springfield, MA.
Mostly we get the regional New Haven to Springfield line. If there’s a sadder train I haven’t seen it.
The New Haven – Springfield service consists of one Amtrak engine and two cars. The engine pulls on the northbound run and pushes going south. It’s like a model train in a department store around Christmas.
I could take this train to work. I’d have to drive to Wallingford first then take the train about 35 minutes. From a practical standpoint my transit time would double. If I wanted to take the train home I’d have to stay here overnight!
In my 27 years in Connecticut I’ve never heard anyone mention they’d taken this train or were thinking about it. Not once!
The most interesting trips by our building are provided by a railroad I’d never heard of until I got here: The Connecticut Southern (CSO).
Most of their trains are short with just a few ratty hopper cars from other railroads. Not all! One night I shot a five plus minute video as a CSO freight lazily headed southbound toward the shoreline. I’ve got the video on my phone, but I’ll spare you.
Let’s get back to my original point for a moment. What is it about these trains that fascinate me? It’s not like I’m going to look down one day and see something amazing. It’s always the same. It always lures me back.