Senior officials looking at weather forecasts, hoping for just one more week of good weather before life gets even more complicated. Thoughts of last summer's fishing trip quickly fade into the hard toil of the time. Pressured by shippers not so far amused by the fruits of mergers and dismemberment, stockholders continually voiced skepticism about the new business that was supposed to finance acquisitions, but clearly hasn't arrived. Only a brief reading of claims made in STB briefs, versus the reality of the day, indicates the problem. While our British friends ponder the effects of their privatization, we can consider the effects of our centralization, and begin to see some disturbing parallels, at least in the disappointment department.
Deep thoughts vanish with the appearance of an eastbound.
The familiar sound and fury of tonnage in a hurry, still stirs deep reaction within. I have seen this scene over and over, and it has the same effect every time. The day it doesn't will be the day that I join the falling leaves in this gentle breeze, disconnected, losing color and about to be swept up in the coming winter's broom. Though beat about a little, and stressed in recent years, the railroad appears healthy. First, waiting for the winds stirred by the train to settle, then waiting for the disturbed hoards of leaves to regain their quiet, it becomes time to walk back home.