PASSENGER TRAIN

[Music] someone's going away on a trip the traveler is bobby watson he's going out west all by himself to spend his vacation on uncle ray's ranch and while bobby gets all scrubbed and polished cleaned and combed down in the railroad yards his train is being showered soaked and steamed all at the same time before every trip passenger cars are pulled through an automatic washing machine where they're scrubbed and polished until they shine the big diesel electric locomotives already cleaned and oiled wait to be called for work another part of the railroad yard fresh linen and towels are put on the train and food for the dining cars where the passengers will eat while they ride the watsons live in a big city just now bobby and his father are coming to the station in a taxi some passengers arrive on foot some in cars and some by bus the station is a busy place many trains come and go in this station the bulletin board shows what time each train should arrive and leave and whether it's on time or late at the baggage counter people may check their bags and suitcases to be carried in a special baggage car mr watson prefers to carry bob suitcase right onto the train there are stores and new stands in the station too bob thinks a magazine may help to pass the many hours on the trip let's go says mr watson the sign tells him where to go passengers pass through this gate to get to their train each passenger shows his ticket to the gateman so that the gateman can be sure that each passenger gets on the right train track number one says the gateman to bobby here's bob's train all put together ready for vendors in the rear is the observation car as he walks by bob wonders if he can ride in it yes says his father but first we must find your seat on the train the engineer and his helper are climbing aboard the big engine they're all set for the trip here's bob's car the porter takes his baggage mr watson asks the conductor to keep an eye on bob because this is his first train trip alone you're on your own now he says the engineer gets the go-ahead signal he opens the throttle the huge locomotive sets the train in motion slowly at first the signal light is green the road is clear through the railroad yards the train travels slowly bob's riding in a small room of his own called a roumette it has a comfortable seat in the daytime and can be turned into a bedroom at night a wardrobe is built into the wall of the rounet and a wash basin bob sees a neighbor open the wash basin the tracks gradually lead out of town and join the main line the engineer watches every road sign carefully the safety of the passengers is in his hands traveling in a round is comfortable tickets please bob has two tickets one for the train trip and another one for his place in the round the pullman conductor gets the roomette ticket the train conductor returns half of the round-trip ticket to bob to use when he travels back home again now bob can go and explore the train on his way bob first passes through a chair car many people like to ride and share cars like this one especially for short trips it costs less and is quite comfortable the attendant tells bob that the observation car is three cars farther back on his way bob sees the dome car a car with a roof of glass through the glass dome the passengers can watch the landscape all around them here is the observation car now bob understands why it's at the rear end of the train while the passengers relax and enjoy their trip many people work to keep them safe and comfortable in the train kitchen cooks prepare meals for the 200 passengers now the train's hurrying through farm country at lunchtime the waiter rings chimes to tell the passengers to come to the dining car in a moving train waiters have to learn to keep good balance when serving food many people leave their coach seats to go to the dining car a dining car is like a traveling restaurant here while they eat their meals the passengers can enjoy the moving landscape for passengers who don't want a big meal this train has a lunch car bob has ordered a sandwich for lunch and a glass of milk and while he eats a sandwich the train is approaching a station [Music] it's just a small one but it's important for the train crew because here the engineer and his helper are leaving the train and a new crew takes over this way the train has a rested engineer every few hours say look who's here this is clyde bob has company now the boys can watch the landscape together and they can talk about the things they've seen on the trip so far bob tells clyde about the ranch he's going to visit after a while they decide to go to the observation car where they can play checkers in good company the afternoon passes quickly the boys don't even notice that the sun is gradually setting it's already bedtime for small children this room is larger than bobby's and is called a bedroom already the evening meals are being served [Music] while the train speeds into the dusk the porter prepares beds for his passengers the shadows grow longer and the countryside documents [Applause] guided by signposts and signals which tell the engineer the safe speed at which he made battle the train speeds toward the sunset one by one the lights go out and the passengers go to sleep this is how a passenger goes to rest in a round prepared for the night now it's morning again uncle ray's ranch is just across the mountain range but the train won't have to climb over it the tracks are cut into the sides of the mountain and sometimes the train goes through the mountain itself through a tunnel or it rushes across rugged country over bridges and trestles are you ready ask the pullman conductor bob will get off at a small station where the train stops only for a moment but he's all packed and ready [Music] come on bobby here we are [Music] the porter carries a step for passengers so that they can get off the high cars easily and as he had promised mr watson the pullman conductor sees bobby off the train here's uncle ray shouting hi there cowboy the long ride is over uncle ray's jeep is waiting the train starts off again and off goes bob to the ranch to new adventures with cowboys and horses but the train goes on on across more mountains more valleys across desert country until it reaches its destination california [Music] you