The trip was late getting started, about 941 a.m. However, everyone had a good time - at least for the first 30 minutes anyway. One boy sitting at my table was really excited about riding a train (his first) and was telling his grandmother about it on the cell phone. After just one roundtrip, the train was put on a siding with about 35 passenger on board one of the dome cars, including lots of children under 6 years old. It waited there for nearly 1 1/2 hours for 4 southbound freights to pass (Stuttgart is on UP's directional south main). The children were getting uneasy and antsy, so it was decided to call for cars to come pick us up and take us back to the place we had all parked our cars (only about one mile west). UP special agents came and took many back to their cars, while others called relatives to pick them up. Probably not one of the best Operational Lifesaver trips because of the delays, but it was educational. Stuttgart's mayor was also on board.
I want to compliment John Holiman, Special Agent from Kansas City, and John Simpson, Manager of UP Public Safety, also from Kansas City, who were superb hosts and handed out water to everyone and got the cars lined up to take us back to the parking lot. Mr. Simpson also gave an excellent safety presentation in the dome car, which, afler all, is the purpose of these trips. At least everyone now realizes how many train UP runs through that area! (Ken Ziegenbein)
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The train was boarded at the Main Street crossing.
Lots of people showed up.
A freight passes at 9:18 a.m.
The Operation Lifesaver special arrives at 9:41 a.m. May 17.
About 35 got on.
The boy to the right was on his first train ride and absolutely loved every minute of it, even with the delay. He talked to his grandmother on the cell phone and kept telling her what an awsosme time he was having. I don't know who this famly is, but this boy is one of the smartest boys I've ever heard and he can articulate things very clearly with correct grammar. His aunt said he has model trains at home. He loved it when one of the freights passed on the main track to the right.
Cars were called to take people back to their cars in the parking lot since the special was put on this siding to wait the passage of 4 southbound trains, which took about an hour and a half.