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Think On These Things Newsletter>
The Phantom Train
March 28, 2008
About a block before Luna, traveling west on Valwood,
railroad tracks cross the road. It is a street I travel
often when I take my wife, Cyndy, to work, and again when I
pick her up. Oddly enough, it only happens when I/we are
headed toward her workplace. Rarely does it go by on the
way back home. Occasionally, shortly after 3 p.m., the
railroad gates come down, seemingly anticipating the
phantom train. No one knows exactly how long the train is,
but it can easily be ten to fifteen minutes before the
gates go back up. The train could have been gone for five
minutes for all anyone knows.
The first time the gates were down and I waited for the
phantom train to pass by, I thought briefly about backing
up. The instant I put the car in reverse and looked in the
rear view mirror, cars were coming around the turn behind
me. I was stuck. So I sat in consternation watching the
phantom train to go by. Or in other words, watching wind
blow down the tracks. Finally the wooden gates went up and
we were allowed to pass.
The second time I did not think fast enough and passed the
street on which I needed to turn to avoid being stuck at
the railroad crossing. Too many cars were around me to
allow a change of course in any direction. Now I have my
reflexes trained to react as soon as I see the group of
cars stopped or the gates go down. It does not matter if it
is a phantom train or visible train. If it is a regular
train, chances are it will stop and back up just as it gets
to the other side of the road. I have never understood why
they do that except for at a switching station.
Another thing I do not understand is why there is usually
ten to twenty cars already stopped at the crossing. Six of
them I can understand - they were stopped with the flashing
lights and the lowering gates. But the rest of them just
pulled up to the end of the line and waited, probably
impatiently. Let me add that the majority of the drivers
take that same route - most of them every day. They are
either not thinking about it, on the phone for no reason,
or otherwise distracted. Perhaps they think that this may
be one of the two times out of ten that there is an actual,
visible, train.
I am not alone when I take the turn for the alternate
route. It is not difficult to avoid the situation if you
are paying attention. That applies to any situation in
life. If you pay attention and have faith, you can adjust
to circumstances and not be affected by unexpected
occurrences. By the grace of God you will travel
unhindered. But if you try to get by on your own volition,
you may well end up waiting for the phantom train.
Peace be with you.
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