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The Dengler Domain: Trains

Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo!!! My favorite noise in the world. Since I was a young child, I have loved trains. Whether actual trains or model trains, I enjoy everything train. One of the regrets for living in today’s world is missing the glory days of trains. While places like Europe and Japan have impressive train systems, trains are not nearly as important in the United States. Trains having a large influence in today’s society would be amazing.

I lived in the New York City area for around eight months. While good and bad things happened during this experience, riding the train from New Jersey to NYC and riding the NYC subway was amazing. This intricate train system is missed from nonmetropolitan parts of the United States. Amtrak travels across the nation, but their stations are few and far between in Iowa.

In the past, trains were the major form of transportation. Airplanes and cars were in their infancy so going somewhere far meant getting on the Rock Island line. Riding a train would be fun because the cars were more elegant in the past than today. Train cars were more luxurious because they were not about getting the max amount of people to a certain stop. Riding on a train across the countryside provided romantic views of nature like from the Midwest to the West where golden plains led to snow-capped mountains. Trains provided and continue to provide a picturesque view not obtainable by airplane or car.

One part of train history I would not appreciate is the steam locomotive. Today’s electric trains provide a better alternative. Trains of the past were not as safe compared to today’s technological standards. Computers help trains form a picture of the location of other trains. This safety provides ease to a passenger. While not exactly related, it is worth mentioning the Green Mountain train wreck. This wreck stands as the worst ever railroad accident in Iowa. It occurred between Green Mountain and Gladbrook on the morning of March 21, 1910 and fifty-two people were killed. More details of this accident can easily be found online.

This part of train history is not fun, but it is important to know this happened in a small, rural area. Riding a train in a small, rural area provides a different feel than riding a train in today’s society. I wish I could ride a train from Traer to Dysart. While driving under where the bridge once stood on V-18, I wish for the past. Unfortunately, this train line will never come back, but I continue to envy the days trains ran through the small towns.

I have made it abundantly clear trains are awesome. While they will never be as powerful in societal terms as they once were, they will forge on like newspapers and the radio. Their days have come and past, but it is always important to try new things. I recommend finding the nearest train station and riding to a new place. It will be a fun adventure to experience a slow and unique train ride compared to today’s fast moving airplane and car driving society. Trains connect us to the heritage of the United States of America so let us not put this American treasure to waste.

Email Sean with your thoughts and ideas for future columns at: sean.h.dengler@gmail.com

The Dengler Domain: Trains

Chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo!!! My favorite noise in the world. Since I was a young child, I have loved trains. Whether actual trains or model trains, I enjoy everything train. One of the regrets for living in today’s world is missing the glory days of trains. While places like Europe and Japan have impressive train systems, trains are not nearly as important in the United States. Trains having a large influence in today’s society would be amazing.

I lived in the New York City area for around eight months. While good and bad things happened during this experience, riding the train from New Jersey to NYC and riding the NYC subway was amazing. This intricate train system is missed from nonmetropolitan parts of the United States. Amtrak travels across the nation, but their stations are few and far between in Iowa.

In the past, trains were the major form of transportation. Airplanes and cars were in their infancy so going somewhere far meant getting on the Rock Island line. Riding a train would be fun because the cars were more elegant in the past than today. Train cars were more luxurious because they were not about getting the max amount of people to a certain stop. Riding on a train across the countryside provided romantic views of nature like from the Midwest to the West where golden plains led to snow-capped mountains. Trains provided and continue to provide a picturesque view not obtainable by airplane or car.

One part of train history I would not appreciate is the steam locomotive. Today’s electric trains provide a better alternative. Trains of the past were not as safe compared to today’s technological standards. Computers help trains form a picture of the location of other trains. This safety provides ease to a passenger. While not exactly related, it is worth mentioning the Green Mountain train wreck. This wreck stands as the worst ever railroad accident in Iowa. It occurred between Green Mountain and Gladbrook on the morning of March 21, 1910 and fifty-two people were killed. More details of this accident can easily be found online.

This part of train history is not fun, but it is important to know this happened in a small, rural area. Riding a train in a small, rural area provides a different feel than riding a train in today’s society. I wish I could ride a train from Traer to Dysart. While driving under where the bridge once stood on V-18, I wish for the past. Unfortunately, this train line will never come back, but I continue to envy the days trains ran through the small towns.

I have made it abundantly clear trains are awesome. While they will never be as powerful in societal terms as they once were, they will forge on like newspapers and the radio. Their days have come and past, but it is always important to try new things. I recommend finding the nearest train station and riding to a new place. It will be a fun adventure to experience a slow and unique train ride compared to today’s fast moving airplane and car driving society. Trains connect us to the heritage of the United States of America so let us not put this American treasure to waste.

Email Sean with your thoughts and ideas for future columns at: sean.h.dengler@gmail.com