On Thursday, March 28, 2002, I went with Debbie and Jakob on their first train ride. We went from Little Rock to Mineola, Texas, which is a small town about 2 hours east of Dallas. Mineola has a lot of antique shops and places to eat. We left Little Rock about 7 a.m. and got to Mineola about 121 p.m. then returned the same day, leaving Mineola at 650 p.m., getting back to Little Rock at 110 a.m. Good Friday morning.


LEFT-Richard Finch, the Amtrak agent on duty at Little Rock, was talking to Debbie about 509 a.m. RIGHT-Jakob looking out of the Amtrak station doors.


LEFT-Debbie and Jakob waiting on the benches inside the station. These benches were obtained from the old Memphis Central Station years ago. RIGHT -It was a full moon that morning. In fact, we commented on the way to the station how the moon looked like one you'd see around Halloween, then sure enough, a black cat ran across the street BEHIND the car on Marhham Street (guess that was a good omen).


LEFT-The moon shown near sunrise, 556 a.m. looking across the tracks at Union Station. RIGHT-A Union Pacific freight with moon setting, 600 a.m.


LEFT-Amtrak's Texas Eagle arrives in Little Rock at 649 a.m., one hour and 49 minutes late, which is not too bad compared with other days. RIGHT-Debbie and  Jakob walking up the ramp to meet the train.


LEFT-Debbie and Jakob waiting to board. RIGHT-On the train in a reclining coach seat.


LEFT-In the Sightseer Lounge car. RIGHT-Wide view of lounge. There were over 150 on board.


LEFT-Jakob reading the dining car menu for breakfast, 748 a.m. RIGHT-Real flowers were on all the tables.


LEFT-Part of Jakob's breakfast. RIGHT-Debbie got a fruit plate.


LEFT-Playing cards at the coach seat. RIGHT-Watching cartoons on the multiple TVs in the lounge car.


LEFT-Jakob sleeping on seat, 1047 a.m. RIGHT-Marshall, Texas depot from the coach window.


LEFT-Debbie and Jajob after we got off the train, 121 p.m. RIGHT-Other people were boarding, getting off.


LEFT-A conductor on the train. RIGHT-The Texas Eagle leaves Mineola for Dallas and San Antonio. It had 11 express cars on the end of the train, carrying mail, cranberries, etc.


LEFT-We immediately went to get lunch in Mineola at the East Texas Burger Company, the oldest restaurant in that town. It was established in 1907. RIGHT-Jakob at the Gazebo in Mineola, which is located next the the tracks.


LEFT-A train passes the Gazebo. RIGHT-Debbie walking from the Mineola depot toward the Gazebo.


LEFT-Jakob in the Dairy Queen. RIGHT-Spring blooms were beginning to show up.


LEFT-Debbie walking downtown. RIGHT-Crossing US Highway 80.


LEFT-Walking in front of the many antique shops. RIGHT-Debbie fixing Jakob's hair.


LEFT-Debbie and Jakob at the Gazebo, 445 p.m. RIGHT-Ken taken by Jakob showing Mineola depot.


LEFT-Two policewomen from Mineola were told that the next Union Pacific freight was going to stop there so they could take off a transient from one of the boxcars. RIGHT-Waiting for the train to stop, but it never did, and they left.


LEFT-The Mineola depot is unmanned, but a caretaker has been hired to keep the depot open when the train arrives. He sat with Debbie and Jakob waiting for the train. RIGHT-The northbound Texas Eagle, Amtrak Train No. 22, arrives in Mineola at 646 p.m., about 45 minutes late. On the train, we got snacks (actually White Castle hamburgers) in the Lounge Car, plus Debbie and Jakob watched a movie in the Lounge Car (Zorro). Jakob slept a few hours on the way back and Debbie said she did some sleeping. We returned to Little Rock at 110 a.m. (scheduled for 1155 p.m.). It was a long and adventurous day and we all had a good time.