I was looking at my few train sets, toy trains that is. All of mine
are of the good old days of trains, the glory days of trains—the
steamers. The days of the engines of steam! Those big black, beautiful
engines of raw power went hissing into the station, grinding to a stop
with the whistle blowing, the bell ringing. Passenger trains coming and
going, fright trains also. The crew on each train taking pride in that
one train. I remember in the big cities the roundhouse, the shops where
trains in need of repair got worked over. I remember the different lines
of trains. There used to be ever so many. Some just ran certain states
and parts of the country. Then there were the big lines that ran from
coast to coast. Those were the glory days.
I have one passenger train set; I put one of the beautiful steam
engines pulling it. I was just looking at it and thinking of the times
as a child of 6, 7, or 8 years of age taking a ride on one. What a joy
that was, a ride on a passenger train. Those that never had such a ride,
well the poor souls just don't know what they missed. There is nothing
that can compare. You can have your jet flights, I don't think those
compare to a passenger train ride, no way.
Now I was thinking just looking at this one set, someday we all will
take a ride on the Glory Train. Now my set has a baggage car, a mail
car, a sleeper, a diner, three passenger cars, and a tail- ender—can't
remember just what that car was called, but it is the last car on the
train. It has a platform end. I think I remember seeing the President
standing there a few times waving at crowds of people. F.D.R. and the
last great President, Harry Truman.
On the Glory Train, I think there will be a few cars missing. I don't
believe there will be any need of the baggage car. You see, this train
has no need for baggage. Where it is going, you leave all baggage
behind. All the things you have saved up are no good where this train is
going. Likewise the mail car—no mail is on this trip. The Diner, yeah
we might need that one. Fine foods will be served on this trip. The
Glory Train people will have the best of foods. The sleeper, oh we can
leave it behind, no sleepers on this Glory Train ride. Everyone is
wide-awake looking ahead to the station at the other end. The passenger
cars will be filled with happy people on this wonderful train taking
them home to the Glory Promised Land. That Station called Heavens Gate.
I can just see the Glory train pulling through the gate. Whistle
blowing loud and clear, bell ringing and the old steamer coming to a
full stop. There will be Jesus and all the Angels greeting each person
as they step down from the train…stepping down on Heavens green, green
grass of HOME.
