Have you ever walked a Railroad Way

During the heat of a hot summer’s day --?

If you have, you may remember

The late 30’s and the early 40’s…

Growing up then

Was not so great

Those were the days when your Poppa

Always came home late

Of all those years I best remember ‘42

I was fourteen that year

Working on the Wabash Railroad in Staunton Illinois-

This being the early years of World War II

Jobs were plentiful and easy to reap

But very hard to keep

Cautious old men and reckless boys

Didn’t get along too well

The cause for this mix

Was the War taking up the young men

Leaving the labor hunters back home in quite a fix---

In those days walking to and from

Just about anywhere was not unusual

And walking the Railroad was the way to go

Distance between towns was shorter

Because Railroad tracts were laid out

As ‘the crow flies’

The unpaved country roads were winding and hilly

Walking the longer miles over those roads

Seemed right tiring and a little bit silly . .

Exercise was not thought of in times gone by

Walking was necessary to get where you were going

Exercise was never in short supply

Well that was 62 years ago

Now that I don’t have a railroad handy

Parkroad 4 here in Texas

Makes walking jim-dandy

…