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A little girl and her train

She’s a mass transit advocate in the smallest imaginable package.

My three-year-old daughter, Luna, rides the Rail Runner twice a week and has become obsessed. We live in the South Valley while my parents – with whom she spends those two days – live in Placitas. Between the gas prices earlier this year, as well as my 1987 Chrysler LeBaron’s advanced age and mileage, the train became the most practical way to get her (with me in tow) out and back.

Aside from the two days at grandma’s house, it’s the train trip she loves. She tells everyone about it. She’s made friends with conductors, engineers, ticket agents, fellow passengers; all regulars with whom she’s created her own little social network. We get on the train, blanket and Eddie doll in hand, usually seeing a familiar face before we’re even in a seat.

And now she’s begging us to take her to Santa Fe by train (that, and taking her by Amtrak to the ocean).

But the train has really been great for us. We can not only use it to simply get her to her grandparents' house for the day, but she also sees it as a big adventure she can come back to again and again. Debates about taxpayer funding aside, it's been a great thing for my Luna.

Tags: Rail Runner, mass transit

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Comment by Adelita on December 20, 2008 at 7:24am: Such a sweetie!!! Hope I see her on the train someday.

Comment by Luann Wolfe on December 20, 2008 at 8:44am: What a cutie! I want to take the Amtrak to see the ocean too.

Comment by Katherine on January 6, 2009 at 10:57am: Isn't she such a doll? She is my niece and Goddaughter. She always has a lot to share of her adventures on the Rail Runner. Precious moments for her and her dad. Sweet!

Comment by cc on February 6, 2009 at 6:35pm: Ryan Martin - so glad you invited me to this post!
Tis possible to go to the ocean, too --- as long as Amtrak is alive!
Thanks, Starks, for sharing the youngsta reality with those of us whose kids have grown up!

We took our daughter to Disneyland (CA) after 5th grade on the train. At the LA train station there is a car rental place where we picked up a car. The train made it an even more special trip!
2 years earlier we took her as an 8 yr old along with her 13 yr old cousin to Chicago on the train - to visit Great Aunt Betty.
Now, when those Amtrak whistles blow at 1:15 and at 3:45 -we know where they're headed ...