Spent a lot of time in my youth near a couple of sets of tracks. One, the main line, visited many times daily by trains on trips north to Canada. The other was a seldom used stretch behind Lewis Lumber. Unlike the fast diesels that ran on the other, this one was frequented by work engines pushing rail cars of sawdust and lumber back and forth. You probably know where I'm going with this. When we saw one heading down this set of tracks, we scurried and emptied our pockets of coins and placed them on the rails. Pennies were the favorite; Most of the guys had these. I liked quarters, but that was me. Last of the big time spenders, I guess. Wanna know a secret? If I get the chance,and a train is coming far enough away, I'll lay a coin. It's just so much fun to hear the squeaking tracks and find the flattened image of Washington. I'm still pretty much a kid!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Track Fun
Spent a lot of time in my youth near a couple of sets of tracks. One, the main line, visited many times daily by trains on trips north to Canada. The other was a seldom used stretch behind Lewis Lumber. Unlike the fast diesels that ran on the other, this one was frequented by work engines pushing rail cars of sawdust and lumber back and forth. You probably know where I'm going with this. When we saw one heading down this set of tracks, we scurried and emptied our pockets of coins and placed them on the rails. Pennies were the favorite; Most of the guys had these. I liked quarters, but that was me. Last of the big time spenders, I guess. Wanna know a secret? If I get the chance,and a train is coming far enough away, I'll lay a coin. It's just so much fun to hear the squeaking tracks and find the flattened image of Washington. I'm still pretty much a kid!
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I have done that with coins a few times as a kid.
ReplyDeleteWe did this with the smaller aluminium coins... It was great!
ReplyDeleteI have never done this; no time like the present, I guess!
ReplyDeleteI think the important point is to keep this "kid"inside our heart!
ReplyDeleteI like your stories a lot!
Léia
My brother used to do that. I remember being amazed as a kid looking at the flattened penny he showed me. I never had any interest in doing it myself. Must be a guy thing!
ReplyDeleteI have never done this. Might have to try it!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, I've done this before and it is fun to see it after. Fun memory.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to do that, maybe it's not too late!
ReplyDeleteVery cool image of the tracks.
☼ Sunny
Fun times! My sibs and I also like to flatten pennies on the tracks. Unfortunately, there weren't many trains in our area.
ReplyDeleteYou boy, you.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Léia but wow, I'd never even thought of doing it. That's a lovely shot btw, at first I didn't register the shadows and thought wow, blue paint!
ReplyDeleteThis is something I've never done! Maybe I need to at it to the bucket list.
ReplyDeleteI can remember doing that as we took a short cut along the tracks to the local swimming pool. The police would probably turn up today. Nice memories!
ReplyDeleteThe railway is such an important of our nation's history. You memory is a fond one for many people of our generation!
ReplyDeleteJan
Greensboro, NC
Geez, we did that too on the Long Island Railroad tracks in Queens. There was a kid rumor that you could get busted for this because destroying federal money was a crime, even a penny. We did it anyway but kept a lookout.
ReplyDeleteAs they say, "done it too". As a former maintenance type of guy I have noticed something. One, the rust set up on top must mean the tracks are seldom used and two, if they are some maintenance needs pulled as there are several spikes that need driven back in. Love the shot!
ReplyDelete