A Trip by Train

A Trip by Train

    The Formans are an active family. “Where shall we go on Sunday? And how shall we go?” These questions come up regularly every week. They all like to enjoy themselves, but each in his own way.

    Mr. Forman likes driving; one the other hand, thought, he likes his glass of beer. Grandma and Grandpa prefer travelling by car too, but the whole family can’t feet into their four-seater.  Mrs. Forman enjoys coach tours, but only the two children, Jack and Mary, like going places by bus. So in the end they usually settle for the train.

    Last Sunday, on a fine sunny morning, they set out for the railway station. When they arrived at the station, Mr. Forman told the family to wait at the ticket barrier and went to the booking office. Luckily he didn’t have to wait long. He bought cheap day returns. They arrived at the platform to find the train just leaving. Mr. Forman looked at the departures board and found that another train for Dorchester was due to leave in 20 minutes. The train was one of those double-decker diesels. It was a slow train stopping at every half as well. But the country-side along the river valley was very pleasant and they had a snack with them, which the children immediately began to eat, spreading litter all over the compartment, although mother continually told them not to.

    Dorchester proved a good choice for a day trip, because there was something to do for everyone. The children went swimming. Father warned them not to go beyond their depth and then left with mother for Sternberk Castle to see the collection of paintings and admire the porcelain and musical instruments as well as the period furniture. Grandmother went for a short walk and then went to join Grandfather, who sat angling by the riverside.

    Then suddenly a storm blew up and they all made a dash for the railway station. They took shelter in the waiting room. Father looked up a suitable train in the time-table. He found that at this time of the day there was no direct train; they would have to change. Rather than do that, they decided to wait for a through train.

    They whiled away the time in the refreshment room eating sausages and drinking beer. When it was time to go on to the platform and catch the train the adults suddenly realized the children had disappeared. They looked for them all over the station – at the entrance, at the exit, in the booking hall, at the left luggage office, in the W. C. – and were just about to have an announcement made over the public address system when they found the children deep in conversation with the stationmaster. He was telling them about the marvels of the railways. Jack immediately decided to become an engine driver and Mary said she would be a guard so that she and the whole family would always be able to travel cheaply.