This morning I was slightly behind schedule heading out for work.I figured I could just make it on time when I noticed the gate and flashing light at the train crossing up ahead.Having to stop behind a long line of waiting cars,I noticed a garage sale sign on the side of the road 
."Should I,or shouldn't I?...No,rail traffic isn't what it used to be,I thought".I was sure I had to be looking at the last few cars.But the box cars just kept crossing the road in a seemingly endless stream.
Too bad I didn't think to count the cars.I remember as a child my dad counting well over 100 cars on a single train at a crossing somewhere.That was in the days when many of them had multiple engines and all of them had cabooses.This one today might have had 25 (?) total cars.
I also suffered a long wait recently at a crossing very near a switch and forked track.This is the worst possible situation to find yourself in.Blocking the traffic way,the train slowly crawls forward for 15 minutes,stops,and then starts backing up.You suddenly realize you have to look at the same freight cars again as the procession restarts itself ever so slooowly in reverse.If there's a bright spot in all of this,you do get to see an art show of sorts as the cars with graffiti are slow enough to actually be entertaining.(I'm no speed reader)
Has "THE TRAIN" happened to you recently,especially at the worst possible time?What's the longest amount of time you have waited at a railroad crossing?Have you ever counted the cars as they passed?How many?
b t w - We need a train conductor's cap wearing
with a "cow catcher" style brush mustache.
."Should I,or shouldn't I?...No,rail traffic isn't what it used to be,I thought".I was sure I had to be looking at the last few cars.But the box cars just kept crossing the road in a seemingly endless stream.Too bad I didn't think to count the cars.I remember as a child my dad counting well over 100 cars on a single train at a crossing somewhere.That was in the days when many of them had multiple engines and all of them had cabooses.This one today might have had 25 (?) total cars.
I also suffered a long wait recently at a crossing very near a switch and forked track.This is the worst possible situation to find yourself in.Blocking the traffic way,the train slowly crawls forward for 15 minutes,stops,and then starts backing up.You suddenly realize you have to look at the same freight cars again as the procession restarts itself ever so slooowly in reverse.If there's a bright spot in all of this,you do get to see an art show of sorts as the cars with graffiti are slow enough to actually be entertaining.(I'm no speed reader)
Has "THE TRAIN" happened to you recently,especially at the worst possible time?What's the longest amount of time you have waited at a railroad crossing?Have you ever counted the cars as they passed?How many?
b t w - We need a train conductor's cap wearing
with a "cow catcher" style brush mustache.
The trains that blow through Smyrna are usually going around 45 MPH. I believe some might be pushing 55 MPH at times. Those kinds of speeds make it difficult to count all the cars. 
