The power of trains

Hi everyone,

The other night when I woke at 3am as I frequently do, I heard in the distance the sound of a train slowly rolling along over the track and, as always when I hear that sound, I felt myself relax and settle down again, to try to sleep.

I remember in my childhood, that I could hear this same sound frequently at nights, living as we did, near a railway track, and I guess there must be some kind of mind association with the past, which makes it so comforting for me to listen to.

We were at the poorer end of the spectrum. Living in a council house; no phone and no car, of course, but mum strove hard to keep us warm, fed and entertained and I look back on my childhood with great fondness. And a big part of that childhood was travelling by train.

Station waiting rooms often had a roaring fire, and were sometimes even segregated into male or female, which really wouldn’t do today.

Refreshment rooms were staffed by girls wearing black uniforms with white aprons and hats, but the fare on offer was definitely as questionable as it is today, and the coffee, whenever I was allowed to sip my mum’s, was enough to put you off it for life.

When travelling, black smuts from the smoke stack often flew in through the train windows and blackened our clothes, and there was a very distinct smell from that smoke.

When not travelling ourselves, we could wave off friends and family on their trips by buying a 1d (penny) platform ticket.

I can completely understand why some great, grown men get all fired up by steam trains, and travel miles at inconvenient hours, to stand with their cameras on far flung stations or in the middle of muddy fields to take pictures and enjoy the thrill of a powerful steam engine rushing by.

And I’ve enjoyed one of those outings on an old steam train myself, sitting in the dining car of bygone years, so much more comfortable than the sardine can carriages we are forced to endure today.

Nowadays I’m forced to think quite hard before shelling out for a train ticket. They are such bad value for money, and with the value of an orderly British queue also long gone too, it’s likely to be only push, shove and survival of the fittest that secures you a seat.

But trains still seem to have that hold over me, to instantly conjure up my past and to soothe me and lull me off to sleep.

In her last days my mum would settle down immediately if I played a recording of Berceuse from Gabriel Fauré's Dolly Suite. (For those of you who stretch back that far, it’s the theme tune to a long gone BBC radio program, (on the Light Programme I think), for small kids, ‘Listen with Mother’, which would be heard on the radio every weekday).

Does anyone else have a sound with the power to bring great comfort? Or maybe one that manages to soothe the person you are caring for.

[sassy59]

What a lovely nostalgic post Callendersgal. Pete and I remember steam trains, the rag n bone man, knife sharpener man and often chat about different food smells that evoke childhood memories ie stew bubbling away on the hob. We both had wonderful childhoods and enjoyed living when we did. We watched with mother but I do recall 3 way family favourites and Jimmy Clitheroe on the radio.

Not forgetting Arthur Askie and Flanders and Swann of course.

Thanks for the memories. Xxxx

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Hi sassy59,

Wow that stirred up a lot of names I haven't heard for such a long time. Oh yes, a lovely stew bubbling away on the stove and ready to be eaten when we came in from school. Simple pleasures and happy days! Thanks for sharing your memories. x

[springlove]

I loved reading that! So many memories - the steam trains going by. A good view from our bedroom windows

[Hidden in reply to springlove]

Thank you springlove. I hoped that others might share my love of train sights and sounds.

[harleydavidson]

You painted a lovely picture and I was transported for a moment, thank you. Melanie x

[Midori]

Think we may be near the same vintage; I too remember steam trains and the slow, clanking goods trains at night. I also remember when we went on holiday we were very near a terminus, so I could wake up to the shunting in the marshalling yard. It was relaxing, even though sometimes rather noisy.

[Pinklady-8]

We moved twice when I was young and both times we had trains running at the end of our gardens, they really didn’t bother us too much, they were goods trains and not half as many as now, but what I remember is a drink we used to buy from the chemist on the way to school called sarsparella, I think that’s how you spell it. Does anyone remember it and was it really good for you?

[Hidden]

Hi Pinklady-8,

I can't remember ever having sarsaparilla to drink, but, also on the way to school, we used to buy sarsaparilla sweets from a conveniently sited sweet shop, which must've contained the same root as the drink.

I believe the root it's made from has long enjoyed a reputation for being good for you. I'm not too sure about what the claims for it are, but I don't suppose the sweets can have done us much good. Certainly not our teeth anyway.

What I do remember drinking and don't hear much of now, is dandelion and burdock. I suppose the name alone would put a lot of people off nowadays.

The first fizzy drinks we had at home were made by a firm called Corona delivered every week by lorry and bought by the bottle or the crate. The tops were ceramic with rubber seals and attached to the bottle by two metal rods and a lever to close and secure the bottle. These bottles were washed and returned carefully every week to avoid losing our deposit on them. Maybe we should revisit some of our old habits and methods to try to stem the tide of plastics that seem to be engulfing us.

Anyway, thanks for sharing, and very best wishes.

[Yatzy in reply to Hidden]

Oh yes, I can join you on the memories. I watched steam trains in a shunting yard from my Grandmother’s front bedroom window....fascinating, and as you say, comforting and soothing to watch.

The Corona memory is very strong. The bottles were just as you described! In our family all the children chose a flavour before school each Friday morning....then my overworked Mum would line up the bottles as a welcome home treat....but they had to last till the following Friday.! Ha! xx

[Hidden]

Lovely Breathezee, really made me smile!