LAST TRAIN: Harold Pier writes, “I enjoyed your article about
the last passenger run on the B&O in 1955. I grew up across the
Erie and B&O tracks in Mount Jewett. Trains were part of our
daily life.”

“In the morning, the 8:15 stopped at the water tank in
Campbelltown and its whistle told us it was time for us to leave
for school.

“If we weren’t out the door when that Pacific, with its high,
white-rimmed drivers roared by the house, we knew we would be
late.

“The fireman always poured on the coal as it went by, and it was
a rare morning when the teacher didn’t have to spend a half hour
removing a cinder from someone’s eye. The afternoon train brought
the mail along with anyone visiting from Pittsburgh.

“On a cold winter night in 1952 I rode one of the last runs of
that train from Pittsburgh. There couldn’t have been more than
three or four people in the car, the heater wasn’t working, and I
almost froze.

“We reached Jewett around 3 a.m. and I walked a mile through
sleet and slush to reach my home. It never occurred to me to call
for a ride.”

AN IDEA: After reading our items about the demise of passenger
trains in this region, a reader called to suggest that now – with
the price of gas so high and sure to rise – might be a good time to
bring the trains back.

We admit, it would be great to be able to hop a train to
Buffalo, N.Y., or Pittsburgh for an excursion. Maybe even a
leaf-peeper train for this time of year. How nice would it be to
head off to a distant city to take in a football or hockey game and
not have to worry about traffic, icy driving conditions, or sticker
shock at the gas pumps.

LATE BLOOMER: A little bird told us that Nancy Frampton still
has an Easter lily in bloom at her home in Fairview Heights. And,
yes, it’s an outside plant. Hard to believe it’s so late in October
and we still haven’t had a hard frost.

SECOND ONE: Another good idea today: With all the parking
problems at the hospital, wouldn’t a parking garage have been a
possibility? Many hospitals and businesses have above-ground and
below-ground parking. Maybe next time.