Departures, Arrivals and Journeys

Union Station in downtown Los Angeles is one of the most beautiful railroad stations in the United States. Although there have been trains in Los Angeles since 1906, Union Station was not built until 1939. It just celebrated it’s 70th birthday this past May. The windows are arched, the floors are marble, the seats are leather, and the ceilings are 50 feet high with chandeliers. Its architectural style is a mixture of old and new, Spanish Colonial Revival, Streamline Modern, Art Deco and Moorish styles are all part of the eclectic mix. 26,000 passengers a day go through and weddings, banquets, concerts and films take place here. One whole section of the station is portioned off and devoted solely to filming scenes that occur in train stations.

Trains have been used in films since The Great Train Robbery featuring the rag time music of Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller was filmed in 1903. There have been crazy trains, peace trains, soul trains, ghost trains and trains that keep rollin’ all night long. Trains have been the site of famous parties, mysteries, political campaigns and secret service spy head quarters.

Train stations invoke pictures of arrivals, departures, connections and memories of childhood.

There is something about train stations and trains that bring on day dreams and fantasies. With names like Sunset Limited, Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner, Texas Eagle, California Zephyr and Silver Meteor it’s hard not to imagine wonderful vacations to fairy tale castles.  Famous trains like the Orient Express can carry us off on mysterious adventures have inspired movies since 1927. The Orient Express is featured in books and magic shows while the Hogwarts Express is a ride into a magical realm unlike any other and the Cannonball Express represented adventure of a different sort.

While everyday chores keep us back, ground us in reality and day to day needs, the sound of a train whistling in the distance can invoke feelings of breaking free or be a reminder of the freedom we lack.

Here's hoping  the President's plan for a high speed rail line comes to fruition and railroads once again come into their own bringing a little bit of elegance, style and romance back into our lives.