Nowhere can I think so happily as in a train. — A.A. Milne, English writer best known for creating Winnie-the-Pooh bear

Once again, it’s time for Walktober!

(You can read the details about it — dates, etc. — at Dawn’s blog. Join us if you can — the more, the merrier!)

This year, I decided to change things up a bit. The walk I took last year was breath-taking but having talked to others who live in that area and learning how desolate (and potentially dangerous) such a solitary walk could be, I opted to surround myself with living, breathing humans!

Sadly, the Fall colors hadn’t arrived when I took my jaunt. Oh, I’m seeing points of color now, but peak leaf-peeping doesn’t happen until mid- to late-October, and the place I wanted to visit would close for the season by then, so I had to get a move on.

I drove to Monticello (IL) and visited their all-volunteer Railway Museum, one of about a dozen museums in Illinois devoted to the preservation of railroad history.

Historic depot — All Aboard!

My agenda was to wander the rail yards until I heard the conductor shout, “All Aboard!” and pull the whistle. Then, I’d line up with parents, grandparents, and kids; climb onto a vintage passenger car pulled by a historic diesel engine and enjoy a train ride.

Illinois Central diesel engine that pulled our train

Train rides occur at this museum only on weekends. Some trains (like the one I rode) use diesel engines, while others operate on steam. A variety of special events (including the popular, already-sold-out Polar Express), draw train enthusiasts from across the area.

The museum collection includes pieces — some, more than 100 years old — gathered from across the U.S. mostly through purchase or donation. I saw locomotives (diesel and steam), passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses, many of which are operational; others are undergoing renovation or repair.

Old-time steam locomotive wasn’t pulling trains that weekend

Pullman cars for passengers

Tanker car

Caboose

Additionally, there are all sorts of outbuildings for maintenance and storage, as well as artifacts designed to preserve railroad history.

Inside this car were exhibits and railroad memorabilia

But it’s the train ride itself that’s such a huge draw. Rumbling down the tracks over a former railroad line from the museum through Monticello (county seat of Piatt County) to another depot takes about a half-hour. Visitors can either ride right back (another 30 minutes) or hang out, shop, and eat lunch on the city square before taking a later train back.

Look at that old manual typewriter!

Perhaps it’s growing up in the Midwest in a “train town,” but I’ve long found travel by train to be especially winsome. The gentle rocking of the wheels on the track, combined with the lonesome call of the whistle, makes me relax and breathe as nothing else can.

No wonder so many songs and books relive the magic of trains!

View outside one of my windows — see? The trees really hadn’t turned yet

View outside another window — lots of corn waiting to be harvested

Inside a caboose, where train workers lived while traveling/working

Of course, this was a historic train, not Amtrak. The passenger car wasn’t air-conditioned (though open windows and a nice breeze kept things comfy). The seats weren’t padded, nor did they recline. There was no snack car. No restroom. No sleeping car. And I didn’t even check for wi-fi.

Look at these bunk beds — not sure I’d feel especially safe with that webbing to prevent the top passenger from slipping to the floor!

Still, it made for a memorable Walktober. If you haven’t done your walk — or ride, bicycle, swim, roller skate, whatever — I encourage you to get out and do so. We want to share in your adventure!