Train Tracks

I've wanted to take the boys out to the train tracks for a long time and we finally made it happen a couple weeks ago.  I remember going to the tracks a lot when I was younger since my dad worked for the railroad for a lot of years and we used to always go out to the tracks on Labor Day to have a picnic and watch for trains.  I have good memories about watching trains and I wanted my kids to have some memories too.

My dad had a hard time trying to decide where he wanted to take us but because it was so hot and windy, he decided to just take us to Modena where would be able to find a tree for some shade and maybe it wouldn't be so dusty.

As soon as we got there we put our pennies out on the tracks so the train would run over them.

 

Grandpa took the kids on a 4-wheeler ride while we waited for the train

Not long after we got to Modena, some Union Pacific workers came by and my dad went over to talk to them to see if they knew if a train would be coming by any time (we've been before when we didn't see any trains so we were hoping we'd see one).  The workers thought there would be a double-decker coming through within an hour so we ate our lunch & rode the 4-wheelers while we waited. 

The hour came and went and we waited another hour after that and still no train.  We were starting the think that maybe the workers didn't know what they were talking about and thought about packing up.  But then we started hearing something.  I went and looked down the track and sure enough, there was a train...and it was coming fast.

Brent watching the engines

Mia wanted to hold grandma's hand & Alex was thrilled to see a train

Once the train went by we went searching for our pennies that we put on the tracks.  It's amazing how far some of those pennies get shot out from under the wheels.

Our flattened pennies

It was a hot, windy wait but we were rewarded with a train so we can't complain.  The worst thing was that I stepped on a nail just as the end of the train went by so my foot was pretty sore.  Luckily I had a tetanus shot a couple years ago so I didn't have to get stuck again.  But the kids had a good time so that's what matters.  They've asked when we can go back so that's a good sign.  Next time we'll have to call my uncle Lee so he can look and give us a better idea of where and when the trains will be coming through.