A train day

 

Recently we returned to the  Oregon Rail Heritage Center - a place we visited with their cousins, Sylvia and Tavio, during Christmas break. Just like last time, it was a gloomy, overcast day. But this time, there was a train running!

 

We kept the upcoming train ride a secret because we've never done it before and we wanted to make sure it would actually happen. But I think they knew what was coming up when we went outside to the waiting area.

 

At first we braced ourselves for disappointment, because we weren't sure we were going to get on the train, or if we'd even get a window seat if we did. Even though we were first in line, they let a birthday party and a group of disabled citizens get on board before us, filling up a couple of the cars.

But neither of those groups could fit in the caboose, so when we boarded we were able to climb right up inside of it! We sat up high in the little seating area by the windows. It worked out just perfectly.

The train didn't go very fast, and some of the view was of the homeless camps in the woods by the river, but the kids really enjoyed it. The ride was about 45 minutes - it just went south along the river, then went right back to the museum.

 

We spent the rest of the time looking at the trains on display and watching real trains whiz by on the regular train tracks. 

 Then, another chance to take fun pictures of the kids playing outside...

(Ronan is jumping on the tracks, but it ended up looking weird because I was above him and you can't see his feet.)

Then, for dinner, we went to a new restaurant with a "sushi train"! The food went all around the restaurant on a conveyor belt and you could grab what you wanted to eat (or just order). It was delicious, so we'll definitely be returning.