Date: 2007-04-06
From: Hiawassee

To: Trainman returns to Connecticut - part 1
Miles today: 0.0

Journal entry by TRAINMAN.The day starts off gray and cold, not much above 50 degrees. No one seems to be in a great rush to get back on the trail. The last minute TV forecast is for continued below normal temperatures.The hiking group, minus one, departs the Hiawasse Inn at 10:30 am, obtaining the necessary ride back up the mountain to Dicks Creek Gap. Montreal stays behind for a day to nurse a cough he picked up at Neel's Gap hostel. Hiking relatively faster than the others he hopes to catch up in a few days.Trainman waits at the Inn for the shuttle ride back to Gainesville, a long 55 mile trip. I've decided to take the train, rather than flying, because it will be much less expensive, should be a lot less hassle, and just might be FUN! (It's been about 7 years since I've last ridden a train.) Right on schedule Joyce the shuttle driver pulls into the parking lot. Considering the distance we have to travel, her vehicle of choice is not exactly confidence building, appearing to be a seventies' vintage Ford Fairlane. Nevertheless, we move with alacrity through the mountains. Thankfully engine and brakes all work as required. We enjoy entertaining conversations on an assortment of topics. In less than 2 hours Joyce deposits me at the town square in Gainesville. I pay her the prearranged $70. Not a bad deal. Recalling recent taxi rides I've taken in Connecticut, a 2 hour ride there would probably cost $700, not $70.It's now around 1 pm and the train doesn't leave until 9:00. I told April I would spend some time at the library, using their computers to start transcribing our Trail Journals. Although the building is identified on the map I have, it still takes about 30 minutes of walking to find it. Along the way I'm stopped by a guy unloading magazines from a truck. What with the pack on my back and the boots on my feet, it's pretty obvious to a seasoned hiker who I am. We have an interesting chat for about 10 minutes. I notice the back window of his vehicle is plastered with the requisite hike/bike/ski stickers from Colorado, West Virginia and Maine. A few minutes later I spy the library sign. I'm lucky to find the library open: today is Good Friday.During the 9 days we've been hiking, April has taken notes about our daily activities. She usually does her writing just before going to sleep each night. Now I am carrying with me 9 pages of hand-written notes. I've got to figure out how to use the EDITOR function on Trail Journals and start inputting these stories.It looks like 30 people are using the 40 computers the library has available. There is definitely a learning curve for what I am doing, but it's not too steep. I successfully type the first 2 entries into Trail Journals, then my 2 hours run out and it's time to go. Still got 5 hours to kill until train time.I wander around town, eventually making my way back to the park where I know ol' Number 209 is on display. When we first discovered the steam engine on March 27, it came as an unexpected surprise. Now I have the luxury to spend a solid hour inspecting every mechanical aspect of the engine. Although the builder's plates are missing (either stolen as souvenirs years ago, or hopefully removed for safekeeping), I am able to determine that this 2-10-0 was manufactured by Baldwin Locomotive Works (Philadelphia) in 1930. Subsequent detective work reveals that the engine was retired from service in 1957, placed on display in Gainesville in 1991, and fully restored in 2005. The work is all very nicely done and a credit to the town.Around 6 pm I wander the half mile down Main Street to the Amtrak station. I set myself up on an old wooden platform and enjoy a steady stream of freight trains passing before me. Finally the dropping temperature gets to me and I go inside to the waiting room.A gruff old woman, the Amtrak "agent," is there, barking out a steady stream of instructions to the gathering passengers. She keeps us informed as to the lateness of the Crescent's arrival, originally to be one hour late, then one and a quarter hours, and finally one and a half hours late. We are barkingly told that a freight train in front of our passenger train has fallen off the track. Not Amtrak's fault! Regardless, late is late, and once time is lost it is NEVER recovered (goes counter to the laws of physics, and applies to planes, too).As the train is coming to a stop at 10:30 our agent/drill sargeant is yelling: "Charlotte passengers line up here! Washington passengers line up here!" As soon as the trap doors are let down, she continues: "Everybody move it, this train's gotta go! She personally is doing her best to get this train (HER TRAIN!) back on schedule!Once on board I find that the train is surprisingly full. May have something to do with the holiday weekend. I find a window seat - my preference - but quickly discover that that neither the overhead reading light nor the footrest is operational. Not good for someone who is hoping to do some reading while relaxing his tired feet. It doesn't take long to figure out this arrangement is not going to work. I gather up my reading material and head forward 2 cars to the lounge. Here I find that all the lights are working and there's plenty of empty booths. I pay $4 for a Budweiser and nurse it for an hour while reading the latest issue of Model Railroader. Ends up being a pleasant way to finish off a long day. Returning to my seat I zone out on the hypnotically passing scenery visible through the dark windows. I fall asleep at 1:30 AM.For continuation, see part 2 dated 4/07/07.