(The following story was circulated by the Associated Press on September 29, 2010.)

RAWLINS, Wyo. The Union Pacific train conductor bent low, dark blue vest and coat hanging from his slight frame. Jim Coker popped both eyebrows above his spectacles and sang a question below a trim gray mustache.

Tickets? You guys have your tickets?

They didnt.

And for a moment some of the Little Snake River Valley third-, fourth- and fifth-graders looked genuinely worried. The Union Pacific passenger train had left Hanna about 10 minutes prior, and although majestic, the scenery probably didnt look particularly easy to traverse on foot.

After a few seconds Coker grinned, conjuring a stack of fake tickets from his jacket, punched a hole in each and gave them to eager hands.

For many of the 38 students, Sept. 8 was their first train experience.

Third-grade teacher Cindy Cobb organized the voyage from Hanna to Rawlins as a short leg of Union Pacific Steam Locomotive 844s trip from Cheyenne to Portland, Ore.

A lot of these kids have never gotten a chance to ride trains, especially not a steam engine, Cobb said. The railroad is an important part of Wyoming history, and I wanted them to see it.

The train on which they traveled was commissioned in 1944, the last of its breed for the company.

As students shifted in roomy green passenger seats, they asked questions of the various adults wandering the car.

How fast are we going?

Why are the cars bouncing?

Whats that bubble on the last car?

After the first wave of questions receded, students quieted down a bit, splintering into groups to stare out windows, chat among themselves and look around the cars interior.

One car back, at the end of the train, a group of four children unable to procure seats fast enough took in a panoramic view from the top of a dome car that bubble on the last car.

Its pretty rough and its fun, third-grader Wyatt Duncan said.

Well, its not as rough as my moms F-150, countered Thomas Duncan, his schoolmate and cousin.

From the top they saw black plumes of smoke emanate from the steam engine fueled by 100 gallons of water and 12 gallons of oil each mile.

They pointed and snapped pictures.

The experiences novelty was a perpetual topic of conversation among students.

Ive never been on a train before, said Hope Prestrud, a fifth-grader.

Me either, said Natasha Chase, another fifth-grader.

Their only context for the experience was the classroom.

We heard all about the railroad being built in fourth grade, Hope said.

The trip proved enlightening for Cobb, as well.

Ive never been on a train before, so this is exciting for me, too, she said.

As the 10-car caravan chugged forward, Coker showed groups of children his pocket watch, the sole vintage piece of his ensemble.

My grandfather was a steam engineer from 1926 to 1968, and he gave me this watch, he said. When I hired out in 1971, he went, Now that youre on the railroad, youve got to have a watch.

And although hes only been the full-time conductor of the special service train since Jan. 4, his family history is riddled with railroad ties.

Both my grandfathers retired from Union Pacific, my dad and my uncle, too. Me and my brother are both conductors, Coker said, And my son has eight years in the signal department.

Coker said the train routinely allows students to ride the steam engine for free, although the Little Snake River Valley children are the only Wyoming children that were scheduled to take part in this trip.

As the train got closer to Rawlins, vehicles began popping up near the tracks, people with cameras snapping photos and waving to the children from nearby.

During a stop for a priority train to pass just outside of Rawlins, Coker presented safety information to the students.

They quickly reverted back to hands-in-the-air answering and unison call and response until the train in question actually zoomed by, whistle blowing.

Oohs and ahhs filled the makeshift classroom for the next few minutes.

Coker smiled and waited, echoing a sentiment ubiquitous among the students, teachers and chaperones Its fun.

Friday, October 01, 2010