LOCOMOTIVE: HISTORY, CREWS, FAMILY TRAVEL

Locomotive written by Brian Floca is a fantastic book about locomotives. This book was published in 2013. It is a Caldecott Medal Winner, Sibert Honor Book, and New York Times best seller.

I will start out with some of the words written on the fly leaf on the book. "Locomotive is a rich and detailed sensory exploration of America's early railroads....It is the summer of 1869, and trains, crews, and family are traveling together, riding America's brand-new transcontinental railroad. These pages come alive with the details of the trip and the sounds, speed, and strength of the mighty locomotives; the work that keeps them moving; and the thrill of travel from plains to mountain to ocean....Come hear the hiss of the steam, feel the heat of the engine, watch the landscape race by. Come ride the rails, come cross the young country!"

Have you ever ridden on a train? Have your children ever ridden on a train? What a wonderful experience for your children to take a trip on a train.

I Still have a vivid memory of taking a train from Rigby, Idaho to Salt Lake City, Utah. I must have been about 5 or 6 years old. We were standing outside of the Rigby Train Depot and the train pulled into the station. It was humongous, black and hissing loud. When it came to a stop white and black steam poured out from underneath the engine. That is the only memory I have of the trip and it is a vivid memory.

In the last few years I have taken Amtrak from Los Angeles to San Diego three different times. It was a lot more fun when I went with my family. You can look out the window and see the ocean and the towns as you pass by, you can visit, play games, read and not have to contend with traffic.

My friend and I are planning a trip from Salt Lake City to Chicago in October. I will keep you posted as the plan processes.