Hello Geoffrey & Philip Doughty,
I just thought I'd share a reflection with you which might lessen the "bitter" part of your thoughtful article: As a young boy, my big brother (and my Dad on other occasions) used to take me for walks nearby a chemical plant called "McConnon's"; it is within a mile of the "CK Tower" point on the current CP (former Milwaukee Rd) mainline in Winona, MN. At the time we would watch lash-ups of CNW RS-3's chuffing by, to & from Waseca, MN with mixed consists on a parallel, but now torn-up line which used to diamond with the Milwaukee/SOO tracks at CK Tower. My brother was in the Viet Nam war for two reassigned tours. He came back in 1966 and the family was understandably greatly relieved. Six months later he was killed in a car crash close to his military base near Washington, DC. Dad died six years later at the age of 56 of his third heart attack. Geoffrey, I firmly believe that those who leave this life loving Our Lord await us in a train-watcher's--and everybody else's--paradise. The great times we had on this earth do not represent a "paradise lost" moment swallowed up in time, but point to much more of the same--to an extent we just can't imagine while in this life. If you fella's should happen to go to that current NS crossing near Otis, close your eyes for a moment & just listen, don't be too surprised if you hear a distant echo of a horn of a covered wagon unit of the Limited as well as the voices of you Aunt & Mom. They may just be waiting for you...
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