Train Rides with Poppie

My boys have long loved the Saratoga Springs Train Station. When they were small, we would often take rides on summer evenings (oh those days of no air conditioning were so long, and so hot, and I looked forward to our ride every night—it was more for me than for them!), and we would usually end it at the train station around the time a train would be pulling in. We’d park the van and feed them dinner—whatever easy, portable thing I could put together (hot dogs, grilled cheese, string cheese and apple sauce)—while watching the big engine roll to a stop, and then pull out again a few minutes later. The boys absolutely loved it. But the real thrill for them in regards to the train station has been what my Dad—their Poppie—devised when my oldest was three: Dad decided to take him on a train ride from Saratoga to Fort Edward—a half-hour trip—so my boy could have the experience of riding on a train without making it an overly long trip or breaking the bank. Ever since then, Poppie’s marked big-enough-boy status of his grandsons (usually the age of three, after diapers are done) by taking them on this same train ride. My four older boys have all had their trips, and my oldest nephew as well. And just a couple weeks ago, my No. 5 had his turn. He’d been looking forward to it for a long time, and had been counting down for at least a month, and when the day finally arrived—oh! The excitement! I packed a little lunchbox for him with a juice box and his stuffed lamb lovey (his request), and we picked my dad up and got to the train station with about a half hour to wait for the train, which is perfect, because sitting in the train station is part of the experience. There are toys to play with and the bathroom to explore, and seeing the passengers arriving to wait for their trains and hearing the train information announced on the loudspeaker increases the anticipation. At a certain point we go to sit on the benches outside by the tracks, and Dad points out the railroad lights and explains what they mean, and mimics the sound of the train whistle so we know what to listen for. I have pictures of each one of my boys looking down the tracks and pointing when they see the train coming, and the looks of wonder and excitement and innocence can make you just cry. I have pictures of the boys holding Poppie’s hand and getting on the train, and I watch the train as it pulls away, waving, even though it was only this most recent time that I was able to see them waving back through the tinted windows (Dad said he made sure to put their hands right up against the glass this time). Then I drive up to the Fort Edward train station, which is sweet and old-timey and has lots of fun gift-shoppy things to browse, and food and coffee as well, though I usually arrive just after the train’s passengers have departed, so Dad and his grandson are usually sitting on a bench waiting for me (and if that’s not the cutest picture ever, I don’t know what is). But the adventure’s not over there! On the way home we stop at the Dog Shack in Hudson Falls for their three-for-$1.89 hot dogs, which are easily one of my very favorite things to eat (and that price!), and we stop at Stewart’s for a milkshake or a lemonade, which makes my job as chauffeur one of my very favorite tasks (I look forward to the train rides nearly as much as the boys for the food alone). It’s not uncommon for the boy to fall asleep on the way home, after the weeks of anticipation and the excitement of the train ride and hot dogs themselves, and I suspect Poppie takes a good long nap when he gets home as well. It’s a great way for a grandfather and his grandchild to spend time together, and it’s definitely one of those childhood memory-makers. (My big boys still talk about their train rides.) The train ride is just one of many little treats or surprises or experiences my dad has put together for his grandchildren over the years, just one example of the many ways in which he’s a wonderful Poppie for my boys and their cousins (he also just returned from a day-long field trip with my No. 2 to New York City, in which they both returned happy and exhausted). Thanks to him for being a great grandfather and role model! Happy Father’s Day to my dad, my husband and brothers and my boys’ godfathers, and all of you dads! Kate and her husband have six sons ages 11, 9, 7, 6, 4, and 2. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..