American Rails Chapter 1- Boarding the Banner Blue

 

Christmas lights shined at Dearborn Street Station, Chicago. Jack Smith prepared for departure on the Banner Blue to St. Louis. Under his arm was tucked a Chicago Cubs Jersey for his nephew. The remnants of Chicago Style Pizza left a pleasant taste. 

Christmas always meant riding the Banner Blue back home to St. Louis. Jack found Chicago exciting. So much to do and see. Catch a Bears game. But Christmas meant a train ride home. This was his favorite time of year. It all started on the Wabash.

Chicago stood as a way of life. The hustle and bustle. Jack rode the L-Train everyday. At Christmas, the sound of bells rang throughout the streets. It rang charity in his heart.
Jack dropped a quarter now and then as he saw the Salvation Army man. His shoes covered with salt, he walked up Dearborn Street. He knew it was time to head to St. Louis. Pies of all kinds waited.
Jack loved to see... the freights come and go as a flash of color out the window of the Banner Blue. They all headed somewhere. At the Holidays, he wondered what cities and towns their cargo was destined for. What they carried and to whom. The train excited him.
Sure he rode trains throughout the year. To places much further than St. Louis. Much, much further. But somehow, the Christmas train home was special. He clutched the ticket in his hand.

 And there stood the Banner Blue in all of its grandeur. The lead E8 prepared for departure. Jack read the word Wabash and thought of home. The sleek lines of the streamlined locomotive stood prepared to take him to see his family.