We loaded into their Cadillac, which I remember as a two tone sky blue with a navy vinyl top. My Granddaddy explained to me that despite being in school, I was being allowed to leave early because of a special day he planned. I wasn't told where we were going, but it was a short trip to the Lakeland, Florida Amtrak station off Wabash Avenue. The car was parked and we walked inside where I was handed a ticket and then told to stay on the platform. It wasn't soon thereafter that SCL bumble bees were blasting past towards the old Lakeland Yard. We sat for an hour or so, and ultimately there came into view, the red, white and blue of an EMD F40PH. It was an amazing sight at the age of 5 and so close that I could literally reach out and touch her. After family photos, we boarded and were finding our seats. I remember sitting in a comfortable rust colored seat next to the window which afforded me a view of the south side of the rails.
My grandfather, who is the son of a life long Seaboard Air Line foreman of locomotive of engineers, advised me that were heading to Tampa to visit family. I was fortunate enough to recall many memories of visiting him and my great grandmother. He was an exceptionally tall man at 6'04", he wore glasses, and had a bad eye which I later learned was the result of collision he was involved in. He was chock full of stories about the railroad, and keenly tolerant of my endless questions about the railroad. I would sit for hours, feet kicked up and sitting on his knees, asking my great grandfather about the trains he drove, rode, and made a living on.
Back on board, what was the Tampa section of the Silver Star, I was asked to exit the coach we were aboard and walked to the lead of the locomotive where I was permitted to enter the cab. The F40PH was idling in Notch 8 and louder than anything I'd heard, but inside she was relatively quiet. I met the engineer and brakeman, and then advised we would be leaving soon. I was allowed to stay inside long enough to hear the Nathan M5 from the cab and the endless clank of that venerable brass bell.
I thanked my new acquaintances, departed the cab, and boarded the coach for the westbound trip. We got up to speed quickly, and sadly, I don't remember much about the ride other than when leaving Lakeland and seeing the same buildings I could view from the road but this time from the rails. About 45 minutes later we were pulling into Tampa Union Station where my Great granddaddy and great grandmother met us.
This was my first train trip circa 1983 and to this day, I can remember vivid details of the event, the passenger cars, and locomotive which has forever cemented my love of trains. As I've grown older, I have researched my family, their livelihoods, and learned that my family has an extensive history with the Seaboard Air Line. It wasn't until this year, that I was finally able to get a copy of a 1962 Seaboard Air Line crash which involved my great grandfather while the Silver Star was traveling northbound through Okeechobee, Florida.
