Growing Up Around Southern Pacific in Davis, California

I grew up along the Southern Pacific in Davis.  Many days as we drove to down along Second street, a Southern Pacific train would be heading through town.
I often saw their Hydra-Cushion box cars parked in our wide spot along the tracks.  Cars destined for the West Valley line that headed north at our venerable station would get picked up by the local.
As the trains passed by, I would wave to the engineers and conductors.  As the trains rolled onward, towards the Sierra or Oakland, I began to realize that railroads truly connected America.