Travelogues from the land of uncle Sam

Travelogues from the land of uncle Sam

Trains…

9 July 2005

To begin with how different can train rides be. I guess its a universal principle that trains have to always be late whether its the rajdhani or the amtrack. Well my rendezvous with trains
in the United states begins with waiting at the Ann Arbor station to board my train to Chicago.

Part of the waiting is because am early and partly coz the train is late. Well as i park my self at the station awaiting the train i want some coffee, i walk around and only find the sloppy vending machines this is where i miss the chai walas and the fruit walas who are present even in the remotest railway stations in India. The train ride reminds me of the one i had taken a couple of months ago from Ernakulam to Cochin( where i actually boarded a wrong train but thats a different story)


Its the same thing getting in the train looking for a seat for your self, well the difference is in India if i found the seat and wanted to reserve and have it to my self i would just have to bribe the ticket collector and get a reserved ticket. But over hear I get a seat easily coz i guess very few ppl travel in long distance train.

On board i find a seat easily but once i am seated i am reminded of the chaos, the jabbering mouths and curious eyes which engulf you if your a single on board on a train in India.

The view outside is similar to the train rides in India, forests, country houses but you cant see the children on the streets playing gulidanda and waving out to you.

When I get hungryi i miss the chai wala and the coldrink wala who come a zillion times on the trains in India enticing you to buy something or the other. Well i walk two coaches ahead to the cafe where there is already a que of people lined up. I look at the menu obviously very few options for vegetarians but i get some cereal and milk for myself. Getting off the train was similar to getting off at Bombay central station but bombay central station slightly more brighter
All in all whether its the rajdhani, the flying rani or the amtrack train rides are fun, they have some magic in them. I just completly enjoy the trains( Longdistance, local trains in Mumbai- bad idea) .
So are u upto getting on the train for your next trip