When the late night silence is interrupted by a distant train whistle, I can’t help but snuggle in deeper. I love that piercing, haunting, melancholic sound. I wonder if there are really so many crossings and stops in our old historic neighborhood or if the engineers just know some of us are lying there in our beds thinking thoughts of old. And what is it about a train whistle that evokes distant pleasures and old regrets? Have you noticed how most country songs must contain reference to a train? Have you heard the title track from Josh Turner’s release "Long Black Train", in which the "long black train" is a symbol for temptation ("That devil's a-drivin' that long black train", Josh writes), is reminiscent of Johnny Cash, a singer I listened to a lot when I was younger and whose music I still enjoy.

How often have I sung with the grandchildren, “Down at the station early in the morning, see the little pufferbellies all in a row……” I know there are others who love the sound of the trains but I admit now that the average number passing through a neighborhood on a single day has grown to 30+, those adverse to the noise are becoming more vocal. Beginning, expectedly, with our West University crowd. Now their 3-4 story solid brick/stucco houses are built fully at lot line, so it’s hard to imagine them being bothered but….. the Bellaire residents soon fell in line behind their WU cousins and now the City is considering “quiet zones”. (Silence, that is, except for their Hummers, Boom Boxes, Triple Blue Stereo Outdoor Speaker Systems, etc.) But perhaps I’m just feeling cranky and unfair.

“The obvious benefits from a quiet zone include a drastic reduction in noise levels, as the whistle noise stops immediately. Also, according to Houston City Council Member and HAR member Michael Berry, property values rise dramatically when a quiet zone is enacted - as much as 50 percent. (CLUE) Houston, a stretch of railroad near West University and Bellaire is the closest in our area to becoming a fully-approved quiet zone. The cities of Houston, West University Place and Bellaire worked together to launch the zone as a pilot project for the Houston area. Last year, the city received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration to begin the process of creating a quiet zone. City engineers have already installed the proper barricades at the street crossings involved.”……..from City Council meetings

All is surely not lost, however. I remember planning a train trip to Dallas for the boys when they were young and somewhere in a dusty box on a closet shelf, I have a handwritten dairy of that experience. We loved waving at the people on the front porches as they rushed to wave as our train passed. Their Dad and I were going on to California from there but if I had a “do-over”, I’d probably want to continue our trip via train. Youngest son took his own train trip to the West a couple of years back and he has his own story to tell about that. Oh well, perhaps someday I’ll head back to the country to enjoy catchin’ my lightin’ bugs and listened to those long lonely train whistles.

Meanwhile, the train running through our old Shepherd/Durham neighborhood continues its routine wails. And mixed with the church chimes from the old rectory six blocks away, I can think of no better nor gentle background acoustic for our neighborhood.