Our Ride on the Rails ~ By Bill Pettengill

Have you ever had a fragrance of a perfume or the smell of biscuits baking in the oven, or see or hear something that took you back to another time or place, that stirred up perhaps fond memories of a time gone bye?.  Maybe it reminded you of a loved one or a place. Recently I  had one of those  nostalgic moments that sent me back almost 60 years.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, many of my uncles and cousins worked for Southern Pacific & SantaFe Railroads.  They were conductors, porters, mechanics, and many other railroad jobs.  I remember as a kid, going down to the train station to pick up aunts and uncles and cousins coming in from El Paso Texas.  Standing in the night air just waiting and the excitement building… of seeing and hearing the passenger train coming into the station. I remember the thunderous sound of the engine slowly pulling in, the steam coming out the side like the wheels were on fire.  The enormous connecting arms that connected the drive arms to the other wheels, slowly coming to a halt.  My aunt clutching my hand with a death grip, so I couldn’t touch this big black hissing, chugging steam engine.  The bell was clanging to beat the band.  Oh how wonderful it was, the smells and the sounds.

Even though most of my family was part of the rail system, I never had the opportunity of riding a train anywhere. So as I grew up, it was amusement park trains that filled the bill.  First Disneyland and later at Knott’s Berry Farm. Chug, Chug, Click Clack, Woo Woo, the bell ding, ding.  My children loved it, but really the big kid loved it more than them, woo woo eeh, haw!

I remember my uncle, aunt and all my cousins would come to visit when we moved to the valley. At exactly 4:30 my uncle would pull his pocket watch out of his pocket and check.  Sure enough, it would be 4:30. He would then announce in a very clear distinct deep voice “All Aboard!”.  My play friend would ask, “what does that mean?”  “All Aboard means -Let’s go”, I told my friend.  Just like clockwork, my uncle, aunt and cousins would hop aboard  their 55 Ford Woody Station Wagon and depart for home. Funny, some years later while our family was growing up, the first vehicle we had was a station wagon and our loading call became Bort (All aboard}.

As time went by, I had the chance to ride on dinner trains, small coastal train rides, short gold country rides (riding in a ore carts towed by small steam engines), wherever, whenever, I would take what I could get.  A couple of years ago I went back down south to help my son who was recovering from surgery. I needed to find a way to his house in Ventura at the coast from the Burbank Airport. “The Amtrak, a real train finally”, my son said

I was going to do this. I hoped I would not miss or take the wrong one.  Finally I saw it coming, I hopped on board and  found a seat with lots of windows and lots of commuters.  Bump, Bump, eeh haw!  30 years later in my old neighborhood! I couldn’t believe I was on a real train.  I began to see my old paths from a new perspective.  I couldn’t look from right to left or forward to backwards fast enough. WOOO, WOOO, Ding, Ding, the crossing bells went clickey clack.  Here I was, revisiting my childhood hangout, Chatsworth and the Santa Susana mountains. Not walking the tracks, but riding above in the train.  Oh how my neck hurt, trying to see all, left right, left right.  Soon I was at my destination. 45 mins, that is impressive.  What a mental journey, so many changes in this quick ride.

Now it is JUNE 2011.  Retired recently, kind of moping about, somewhat overworked (honey do’s you know). One day my wife calls me upstairs to the computer and asks me if I would like to go on this train ride called ‘The Northern California Explorer’.  Yeah right, When? Are you kidding! We have our son’s wedding that following weekend and the reception is here!  Impossible!!.  She asks,  “Are you sure?” I say unfortunately we can’t.  She asks, “Do you want to see the video?”  Sure I do.  Wow, this is a one-time trip of a lifetime. All the many details and  the train is coming though our own backyard. Oh no, this train even has the California Zephyr!  This takes me straight back to my early childhood, WOOO, Wooo,

Ding Ding  WOOO….with a crackling voice I replied,  “Oh heck yes. We can’t miss this. Some how we will get the work done”. I couldn’t make eye contact at that moment. All kinds of emotions had flooded over me, Wow… on this train there was the California Zephyr.  I remember all those times I had seen her as a young man. The enchanting streamline engine. Her silver flash, as she went flying by. Now I finally have a chance to ride on such a magnificent beauty. This must be a dream. This was all I could think about for the next two weeks,. Eeee-haw, can’t wait!

Finally Friday comes and we are about to leave for Chico.  Again, much to my surprise before we left, there was a surprise party just for me. A retirement party. Bet you can’t guess what I received. A pocket watch, wow!  What a great gift!  When the party was over, it was now time to leave.  I pulled out my watch and said,  “All Aboard!”  Off we go.  Wouldn’t  this car go any faster? Two hands on the wheel, please drive carefully and finally we were in Chico.  It is only 2hrs max from home, but the train leaves early.  We can’t miss it,  so we are a day early. As we waited the next day for the charter bus to pick us up, I realized I was starving. Did we even eat dinner last night?  It felt like I was about to meet my mail order bride. It was the longest bus ride of my life, whew!  15minutes by car, any other time.  Then we pulled into the Orvoille Train Station and there she was, right in front of me, the California Zephyr, the Silver Lariat coach.  Oh, is she beautiful!  All I wanted to do is touch her.  We went to the area to check our bags, so they could be loaded.  I didn’t know which train car we were on.  It really didn’t matter, they were all so beautiful. It was time to load.  The whistle blew and hundreds of people started to board. I asked my wife which car we were on and she looked at our tickets. She said car 10 & 11.  We followed the crowds and without looking up to see what car we were getting on, I see the step my Uncle always put out for the passengers to disembark on. I stepped up on that very step.  The porter helped us on.  We were greeted by our host and given our passes.  Did I black out out, was I having an out of body experience? I found myself in the dining room car seating of the Silver Lariat facing forward. Pinch! How could this be.  Its her and truly she is beautiful I couldn’t speak at all.  I could only look about in total amazement.  The whistle blew.  We were moving in a dream come true.  Shortly, Chris Stow greeted us and all the press aboard all told us that we would later be called in and briefed all about this trip and train. I sat in total shock. 60 years later I am riding this train.  Crisp white linens, silver lariat fine china and coffee and muffins were served by our waiter.  Fresh mini carnations in crystal vases on each table.

Soon, Mr. Chris Skow came for us and took us to a side room in the same car called The Turquoise Room.  He explained this room was very special, as many well known celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra , many of the rat pack used this room on their trips.  He gave us a full overview of The Northern California Explorer.  How, and where they came from and where they were used.  Since their retirement, they are all privately owned and restored to the original beauty.  We were then taken to see and learn about each and every car on this train.  It is not as easy to walk in the narrow aisles of a moving train and there are many stairs to the dome cars, but you do feel embraced into times of the past as you walk from car to car and through the vestibules and feel the fresh air blowing in you face.  It was a rainy day, but nothing could dampen our spirits. We learned so much history and new knowledge about the areas we were passing through.  Everything was so detailed.  I wasn’t a train buff or really an enthusiast, but the people of our tour were retired railroad people and the like, so very knowledgeable. There were many train historians, mechanics, curators, collectors, owners and of course lovers of everything trains. They could answer any questions. If they didn’t know the answer, they would find out and get back with us. The owners of the train cars and members of train clubs were also on board. True genuine hospitality and service, totally their for your needs and enjoyment

Friendly and sincere, this wasn’t a train ride to the staff, it is their life and love. The train is spotless from top to bottom. Staff stays onboard many hours after arrival to insure the same quality the next day.  Meals were so amazing!  First, that the Chef could even prepare such delightful, delicious beautiful meals in a small space and still be smiling and ready to answer your questions.  Beverage Service was available all day, whatever you desired.  Even the restrooms had fresh flowers in vases, fine soaps, and towels. We were able to visit all cars with our passes and met many people. Some people from very far away, New Zealand, England, Michigan and much of the East Coast.  Many have taken train trips all around the world,but share with us that this may be the most beautiful area, even with the rain and the clouds. We spent our entire day roaming about, enjoying all that we were learning and the wonderful people we were meeting.

It is a unique experience to view the scenery of the great place we live, in a way you can never see by car or plane. You truly can see where you have been, from the outside deck of the caboose. Once, when I was outside on the vestibule after the people taking their photos left, I looked around stuck my head out the side a little a yelled…EEEEE—Haw!… at the top of my lungs.  When I went back in and found my wife, she asked where I had been. “Just enjoying the people and oh, by the way, did you hear anything?”  I said.  “No why?” she said.  “Oh nothing just asking.”

It is incredible to see vistas of grandeur, rivers and creeks, unbelievable rock formations, fresh, vibrant greens and blues, canyons valley highs and lows. The Lakes are having a hard time holding the abundance of water, which produce the many waterfalls you are able to see along the way. There are lots of tunnels and stopping for freight trains to go by.  Volcanoes and their lava flows, vast forests that climb the steep canyons, and then to the flat juniper plateaus as far as you can see, fields of alfalfa, horseradish, potatoes, vast irrigation lines, ditches with abundant waterfowl everywhere, sun, rain, shadows, shades and overtones… so much for your senses, all this while being gently rocked from side to side.  She is everything I ever dreamed of and so much more. Where people take time to share with each other about their life and times in the past. A time to just slow down and be in the moment without cells phones ringing or a exact time to arrive.  Just time to enjoy!  The Northern California Explorer.