train of thought

Since we moved here, I've been waiting to be stopped at the train tracks. Always a huge novelty growing up in Northern Virginia, I've always liked going out to West Virginia or other places and actually crossing train tracks and even having to wait in line as one goes by. We would even take Mark out to the VRE station in Burke to see the commuter train roll in and I would always take him down to the Metro when I brought him to my office in Arlington.

So living here, where railroads were (and somewhat still are) a major part of industry, I was excited by the prospect or having trains be more a part of my driving experience. We can hear the train from our house and the railroad tracks cross many major roadways, sometimes on bridges, sometimes with gated crossings, but in town, many crossings are merely marked with a sign and blinking lights - no gates at all.

Well, finally, when I was going to the junkyard to inquire about a starter for the truck, I was headed south on Adams Street, and there was the train! I pulled up behind two cars, ready to stop and enjoy its passing, when the last train car emerged from the trees! I didn't even get to a complete stop before the cars ahead started across the track!

Not to miss my opportunity to achieve my goal of actually (literally) stopping for a train, I made a quick right turn and zipped up Vernal Pike toward the junkyard.

Basically, this was another crossing with no gates - just signs - so I was able to get ahead of the end of the train, roll all the way up to the tracks, and sit with my front bumper only a few feet from it as the last several cars slowly rolled along. Fun!

I know this post is kind of weird, but I like trains, I think having trains in my town is really cool, and there's something fun about having to stop and look both ways at train tracks while driving around in town.