an itching in my thumbs

By itchythumbs

6. trains

you could probably argue that the US in general is "train country" - especially as it applies to freight (passenger trains are not in vogue here).

but texas in particular has quite a relationship to the train. fort worth was built on it and cattle drives, and west texas still relies on it.

i grew up hearing trains in the country and now i can hear their eerily whale-like calls all night here in fort worth. and it comforts.

in chicago and SF, the el and the bart, those infamous workhorses of public transport, could be heard from home. but the sound is different: urban, rollicking, screeching speed. here the trains are freight. they belie industry, an older and simpler way of doing things, soft squeals, dust, oil, work. i think they are a feature of the american southwest, of which texas is a part of.

of course, it's also a little bit southeast, a little bit great plains, and a lot its own beast.

y'all tired of texas yet?

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i'm tired of this iphone camera, that's for sure.

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