Great aunt Lucia was an office worker with the AGS (Alabama Great Southern railroad) in Birmingham, Alabama. Among her other responsibilities, she ran the pass department. Employees and relatives could ride for free. Kind of like airlines today.
So she knew all the crews.
When I was 8 or 9, she'd take me on a train trip.
Along with her sister, Mattie.
This would be around 1950.
Grandpa (their older brother) would drive us to the terminal.
It was an amazing piece of architecture.
We'd board about 8 a.m.
About 30 minutes later, breakfast in the dining car.
White linen and heavy silver cutlery.
I had either a jelly omelet (grape jelly) or the ham and cheese omelet.
Toast or biscuits, and (what else?), grits.
Of course the entire staff; waiters, cooks, etc. were black men, as were the Pullman porters.
After breakfast Aunt Lucia would find the CONDUCTOR.
I learned that he was the train 'boss'.
Not the engineer.
The conductor would take me on a tour of the whole train.
Places regular passengers weren't allowed.
Kitchen, baggage cars, caboose, and right up into the locomotive.
I sat on the engineer's lap and 'drove' the train.
Blew the whistle at crossings.
I was in heaven.
I miss the old days of trains.
Just thought I'd share.
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