Laura, One of my favorite memories of my grandmother is my first train ride, around 1953 when I was four, from Seattle to Ellensburg (eastern Washington). Was that the Empire Builder? I remember riding in the "Vista Dome," but may be confusing that with a later memory. Anyway, it was just me and Grandma, which was really a special treat for the fourth of five children. As I recall, we ate breakfast in a dining car with white linen tablecloths and silver service. I remember being fascinated with the little prepackaged jams, which I had never seen before. I saved some to take home to my siblings. Fingerbowls were brought to us when we finished! When I looked at mine with wide eyes, Grandma laughed, "You don't have to drink it!" I still remember parts of the television jingle, "You'll feel like a king in a castle on wheels, in all kinds of weather, it's smooth as a feather -- Vista Dome North Coast Limited!" There was something in there, too, about, "It's really terrific, Northern Pacific." Thanks for stirring fond memories. Marilyn Schwartz Bellingham, WA

Boy things must have changed a lot in a few years or else we just got the budget ride. My mother and I traveled by train when I was about six or seven (1949?) from Oregon to Nebraska to visit relatives. It seems like we had to change trains quite often. Some of them were fairly nice but others must have been freight trains with one car that had about four seats in it. It still was exciting to me but sometimes a little dirty. Verdena Veelle ----- Original Message ----- From: <MMDSchwartz@cs.com> To: <OREGON-TRAIL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2002 10:20 AM Subject: Train ride memory : Laura, : : One of my favorite memories of my grandmother is my first train ride, around : 1953 when I was four, from Seattle to Ellensburg (eastern Washington). Was : that the Empire Builder? I remember riding in the "Vista Dome," but may be : confusing that with a later memory. : : Anyway, it was just me and Grandma, which was really a special treat for the : fourth of five children. As I recall, we ate breakfast in a dining car with : white linen tablecloths and silver service. I remember being fascinated with : the little prepackaged jams, which I had never seen before. I saved some to : take home to my siblings. Fingerbowls were brought to us when we finished! : When I looked at mine with wide eyes, Grandma laughed, "You don't have to : drink it!" : : I still remember parts of the television jingle, "You'll feel like a king in : a castle on wheels, in all kinds of weather, it's smooth as a feather -- : Vista Dome North Coast Limited!" There was something in there, too, about, : "It's really terrific, Northern Pacific." : : Thanks for stirring fond memories. : : Marilyn Schwartz : Bellingham, WA : : :