My Dad was a railroad man for 25 years in E. St. Louis which, at the time, was said to have more miles of railroad track than any other city. This was because of the Alton & Southern "hump" where rail cars from all over the country merged to be headed in other directions for distribution to their final destinations.
You couldn't go out for a drive without being stopped by a train.
I have always been attracted to trains because Dad would take us to his work and let us actually operate the controls inside an engine and pull the whistle rope. I guess because Dad was director of personnel, the union guys would sort of look the other way. Hearing a train whistle in the distance today brings back all sorts of great memories growing up in Belleville, Illinois... a town like Bedford Falls in "It's a Wonderful Life" which has since turned into Potterville on a good day.
Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Controversy surrounds the new SMART Train project, right along with kudos depending on who you talk to. Nothing new there. What IS new are the benefits SMART will bring to all of us, regardless of on which side of the fence we sit.
To that end, here is one of Petaluma Pete's "TOP 10 REASON" video productions dedicated to the positive side of an issue that is coming 'round the bend, ready or not. :-)
