TOMORROW IS RAILROAD DAY IN DOWAGIAC. IT IS IN HONOR OF THE DRIVING OF THE GOLDEN SPIKE WHEN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC MET THE UNION PACIFIC AT PROMONTORY SUMMIT, MAY 10, 1869, AND GAVE AMERICA A CROSS COUNTRY RAILROAD.  DOWAGIAC, ABOUT 60 MILES SOUTH OF HOLLAND, WAS AT ONE TIME AN INDUSTRIAL CENTER, BOOSTING FOUR FURNACE FACTORIES, INCLUDING THE FAMOUS ROUND OAK FURNACE.  THE RAILROAD WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE TOWNS GROWTH.  THE DETROIT TO CHICAGO NEW YORK CENTRAL RAN THROUGH THE TOWN.  FAMOUS TRAINS SUCH AT THE " MERCURY" AND THE "TWILGHTLIGHT LIMITED" WERE PART OF THE RAIL TRAFFIC THAT DAILY PASSED AT 80 MPH, CAUSING THE STATION TO SHAKE.  

I LIVED FOR A TIME ABOUT A HALF MILE FROM THE TRACKS, BUT I COULD SEE THOSE DAILY TRAINS FROM OUR HOUSE, AND FOR A TIME I WANTED TO WORK ON THE RAILROAD.  IT SOUNDED LIKE A FUN THING TO DO.  ALAS, THE AIRLINES TOOK OVER AFTER WWII, BUT I ENJOYED THOUSANDS OF MILES OR RAIL TRAVEL DURING THE WAR.  

AMTRACK STILL PASS3ES THROUGH DOWAGIAC AND ITS ONLY FITTING THAT THE TOWN SHOULD CELEBRATE "RAILROAD DAY" ON SATURDAY.  

DO YOU MISS THE AVAILABILITY OF RAIL TRAVEL?