Little me with my friends would play “train-train”. The “engine” would start with the long “kuuuuuuuu” sound, and the rest of the “coaches” would follow with the slow and rhythmic “jhik-jhik jhik-jhik”. It is something that children were playing from when train was invented to down the generations. It has always been this particular “kuuuuu jhik jhik” melody that I have associated with trains. However, the shrill siren of modern day train doesn’t resemble the romantic melody of “kuuuuu jhik jhik” even the least. Though I sometimes wondered, the question was never strong enough to make me search for an answer. And then suddenly I stumbled over the answer…
Slovenian Railways offer a heritage ride along the Bohijn line. It is a three hours steam train ride from Jesenice to Nova Gorica and back. It runs around 10-12 times a year and during the spring-summer time. On April 24, it was the first ride of the season; and Blaž and I decided to go with it. As we both love trains, we were very much looking forward to the journey the whole week. I even dreamt of the train-ride and was so excited!!
8.50 in the morning the train was scheduled to start. However, we were too impatient to be there at the last moment and decided to reach almost an hour early. Our argument was “we need to have the best possible seat, take pictures before the ride and explore the train a bit if possible”!!
The train was standing in the station with its classic elegance. The black steam engine was standing in pride; and from time to time smoke came out announcing its glory. All ready, the small wooden coaches were standing. I specially loved the coach marked as post with the small yellow drop box for letters. The class III coaches were all wooden and bright; and the single class II coach was cozy and warm-looking with cushioned seats. Being a museum train, it even had a bar cum shop. Of course we had to be the first “children” to go up inside the engine. It was magnificent! The bed of coal in the furnace was burning golden; and six more tons of coal were ready for the journey that was about to begin. We settled down by the window sides of the class II coach (I told you, the reason to come early was to get the good seats); and impatiently I looked at the station clock counting minutes!
“Kuuuuuuuu”, releasing a cloud of black smoke the train started. The wheels rolled for a journey back in time. And at that instant, I knew why it is “kuuuuu jhik-jhik jhik-jhik”….
The siren was loud, deep and melodious; and the train moved in a slow rhythmic fashion. The fast modern trains couldn't compare with it in elegance, charm and romanticism. A children's play from his world of fantasies had to be as romantic as the steam train. And thus, though the train evolved in reality, in a child's world it remained the same. And same stayed all his excitement and wonder for his first train ride. Like Apu and Durga, my mind raced with the train, and for the train...
Out through the window, I kept on looking at the engine. It was like a fairy tale. Green valleys and black engine with smoke coming out, this was the only picture in my mind. And it kept me captive. I tried to count the number of coaches as the train took a turn and smiled within me. Pretty pictures framed in the window passed by. I waved back as a grandma with the children working in the field looked up to wave as the train passed by. We ran through green valleys and passed by gorges. The sound was grand as we hurried over a bridge. And inside the darkness of tunnels, the sparks of fire glowed like golden dots.
From time to time, my face was hit with coal dust from the smoke. The suddenness would make me pull my face back inside for a moment as a reflex; but then again, I was looking out. I remembered the stories my mother told me about her childhood train ride memories. Her excited face would look outside the window. And upon getting hit by coal dust, she would rub her eyes for a moment and look back again..
I realized how moments from history recreated themselves. Time passed by and technologies changed; and yet human wonders, excitement and emotions remained same. These moments of life flow eternally down the generations. There inside the steam train, I was reliving those moments from history; moments that my mother had lived and left behind in her childhood.
The train had reached Nova Gorica, the end of the journey. I stepped down from the past. My face was all black from the coal dust. And as I looked at my reflection, the child face of my mother smiled back. The same face as mine. Dirty black but happy and smiling…
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