Jin Xiu's Journey

Emilee loves the movie the Polar Express. She watches it over and over again and loves to sing the songs. She is obsessed with steam engine trains and keeps asking to go on one. Because we live in the city, there aren't any steam engine trains near by. Then I remembered as a kid my parents used to take me on an old fashioned train in Strasburg , Pennsylvania. So, Thanksgiving weekend that's were we went. Upon researching it on the Internet, I discovered that you could have lunch on the train. I booked the Dining Car and off we drove 3 hours to the train. Strasburg is a town in the heart of Amish Country. On our way there, while driving through the countryside, we passed horse-drawn buggy's on the road right beside us, which Emilee loved. She thought it was the coolest mode of transportation. That was until we reached The Strasburg Railroad. The railroad is a beautifully-restored Victorian coal-burning steam train that's been running since 1851. (Boy, that was a lot of adjectives in one sentence, wasn't it?) For the past 50 years it's served strictly as a tourist railroad. In other words, it doesn't really go anywhere but instead just goes back and forth on the same stretch of track. When Emilee saw the massive black Train she jumped up and down screaming " The Polar Express is here. look the Polar Express". She was so excited. My greatest joy was watching her face light up as the train rolled in blowing its whistle with the thick black smoke flowing from the top. ( The environment was not a big issue years ago, but the effect of the smoke really does create a perfect picture) As we road the train from Strasburg to Paradise (yep, that's really the name of the town you take the train to) we were served a lovely lunch by waitresses dressed in old fashioned costumes. A smile never left Emilee's face as we passed farms, cows, horses and buggy's. To her, this was Paradise. A chance for her to live the movie she always watches. When we got back to Strasburg, the Emilee drove the "cranky cars" -- hand-propelled cars that date back to the 1930s that they literally cranked around a track. After that, We road the Cagney Steam Train, a miniature version of the Strasburg Railroad complete with flying coal soot that sprinkled down on us like snow. I really do recommend that if anyone is ever in the Lancaster area they should book a ride on the train. It truly is a great adventure the whole family would enjoy.

look at the excitement on her face

pure joy....