You and me both! This is the railroad of my formative years! I remember lots of times being 7 years old, sitting on my bike by the Monon station in Mitchell, Indiana watching the Monon Thoroughbred come thundering into the station for a quick stop. I would look up into the windows of the coaches, just staring in awe at all the people inside the train. Where were they all going? Why couldn't I go too?
When I was in the 5th grade, I got to ride on the Monon Thoroughbred from Mitchell up to Chicago alone, met there by my Grandpa. Dearborn Station was "BIG TIME" to a kid from a small Indiana town of 2500 folks. I was there to take my Mom and my new baby sister back home to Mitchell on the same train three days later.
Many times the Monon hired a snack caterer who would walk up and down the train with a cart full of sandwiches, soft drinks, and coffee. He would make up chanting rhymes as he went through the car; things like.....
"Hurry up and get your fill before we get to Louisville!"
"Everything be "Okeedola" 'you buy an ice cold "Coke-e-Cola!"
Things like that stuck in the mind of a 5th grade kid, dressed up in his suit and a fedora hat, riding the Monon Thoroughbred taking his Mom and his new baby sister home.
For all of you who missed the chance to ride the rails in the golden age, I feel sorry for you. You missed some wonderful memories.