______________________________ FRIDAY, JULY 29th, 1960
There was light rain that Friday morning at sunrise as the cubs awoke. In the boys bedroom, Rex mentioned, "Aw shucks, it's raining. Looks like we can't get started on the tree house before Dad goes to work today". "Yup. It sure is", older brother Jed affirmed. "I hope it's not still raining on the weekend when Dad and us can be building the tree house", Clarence added. "Exactly. You hit that one right", Rex replied to Clarence. Donna had already noticed light rain outside, then left her bedroom to go see Mama Marge and Daddy Al who were just then getting out of bed. "Mom. Dad. It's raining outside. We can't build the tree house", Donna complained. "We'll build it when the rain goes away", Marge assured Donna. "The weather report said the rain will clear out later this morning", Al mentioned as Jed, Rex and Clarence made their way to Mom and Dad's bedroom. "If it stops raining soon enough, can we get the tree house started before you have to go to work?", Rex asked Daddy Al with much enthusiasm. "Awright!", Clarence proclaimed. "That would be cool", Jed added. "Yea!", Donna further added. "There's plenty of time when I get off from work this afternoon", Al said to Rex and the other cubs. "And it's not suppose to rain this weekend". "By the time the tree house gets started this morning, there won't be much time left before Daddy has to go to work", Marge affirmed to the cubs. "Well, yea...I guess so", Jed acknowledged. "Marge then said to the cubs, "Go make up your beds and straighten up your rooms, and I'll get breakfast on". After the ten minutes it took the cubs to get their rooms straight, they came into the dining room as the aroma of breakfast being prepared filled the air...That was of course with Rex turning on the television on the way. Al and Marge already had their coffee made, which was their favorite brand, Wilkins coffee. "Can we take some orange juice with us to watch TV?", Donna asked Mom and Dad. "As long as you all are careful not to spill it", Marge permitted. "A cup. Not a glass", Al said to the cubs. "You'll want more when we have breakfast". With that said, the cubs each poured a cup of orange juice to have watching TV while waiting breakfast to be ready. On the TV was the morning weather report with a meteorologist, a raccoon, illustrating on a weather map how the morning light rain will be moving out of the central New Mexico area, including Duran, Vaughn, Pastura, Encino and Santa Rosa before long. "Sunshine on the way!", Rex proclaimed. "Yeaaahh!", the cubs cheered as they watched the TV weather report. "Now it will be partly cloudy Saturday...", the raccoon on TV went on to say. "Awwww", the cubs retorted. The raccoon continued, "...But there is no precipitation expected over the weekend. And expect sunny skies Sunday". "Yeaaaahhh!", Jed, Rex and Clarence again cheered. "What does he mean, participation?", Donna asked. "It's pronounced precipitation", Jed corrected sister Donna. "The weather raccoon means no rain this weekend". "Yeaahh!", Donna then cheered. The raccoon meteorologist did go on to report, "Now late tonight, there will be another round of light rain, but only as isolated pockets of precipitation around central New Mexico. As for the severe thunderstorms we had yesterday, they're gone for now. And after tonight, this system is out of here, making for a great weekend". The raccoon then signed off, "That concludes today's KSWS Channel 8 morning weather report. I'm Meteorologist Andy Raccoon. Have a pleasant day". About 15 minutes later, Marge announced to the cubs, "Breakfast is ready". With that said, the cubs each took a seat at the dining table as Marge brought out the food. Once everyone was seated, Al led everyone in saying grace before eating...which was something it took Clarence some getting accustom to five months ago when he first arrived to the year 1960. His biological parents in the 21st Century, Charley and Alice, never bothered with saying grace before a meal. Once grace was said, everyone dug in and began enjoying breakfast. During breakfast, Marge asked Al, "How are you and the others coming along on the time machine repairs?" "I believe we've made some strides with it over the past several days", Al assured Marge. "The other scientists can vouch for what I'm saying too. But we still have some small hurdles to deal with". "I'll take that as great news", Marge said to Al. "For the most part, it is", Al replied. "So I'm close to getting back to my original Mom and Dad and everyone?", Clarence asked. "We still have some way yet to go on that machine", Al said to Clarence, then told Clarence, "In the meantime, you'll still be here in 1960 long enough to enjoy the tree house when we get it built". "I'm confident the machine will soon be fixed", Marge assured Clarence. "It's just a matter of...well, time to pardon the pun", Al added. "We at the lab are sure that time machine will be fixed and fully operational". "I hope so", said Clarence. "Not only my original mom and dad aren't born yet in this day and time, but none of my grandparents are born yet either". "We can have fun and do things together while you're still here with us", Jed assured Clarence to make him feel better. "Yea. You and the rest of us have so far", Rex added. "Enjoy the time you're still with us, Clarence", Marge said. "Clarence. You'll eventually be going back to the time you came from. And the time you've been with us will be an experience to have memories of", Al added. "There'll be lots of stories you'll have to share with everyone you know when you get back", Marge said to Clarence. "Well...I guess I never really thought about it that way", Clarence admitted. "Everything is so different and cool in this day and time". As the family continued having breakfast, something dawned on Al, then he said to Marge, "You mentioned about stories to share. It just now dawned on me. We should start taking photos of places and things for Clarence to take back with him". "My gosh! I never thought of that", Marge replied. "We should have started doing that all along back when everyone realized there was a chance the time machine can be fixed". "Oh wow! I'd love have a bunch of pictures of cool stuff they don't have no more where I'm from!", Clarence exclaimed. "Yeah. That's a neat idea", Jed added. "And we can get pictures of The Hop", Donna suggested. "Aw, The Hop ain't goin' anywhere", Rex replied to Donna's suggestion. "I'm afraid it will", Al said to Rex, as well as to Jed and Donna. "Clarence once told your mom and I, that he remembers The Hop as an old burned out building in the day and time he came from. "I only told Mom and Dad about it before now...", Clarence said to the other cubs. "But old animals where I'm from says a bad thunderstorm came up one night and lightning struck The Hop". "So...It will burn down?", Jed asked with disappointment. "It will happen in 1964 or 1965 or about then according to what I use to hear the old timers say", Clarence affirmed. "Clarence has told your mom and I that", Al said to the other cubs. "Aww, that's gonna be a drag", Rex retorted. "Can't control lightning and the weather", Al affirmed. "That's four or five years from now. All you can do about that is enjoy The Hop while it's still there". "And don't go telling everyone there at The Hop what you know about that", Marge made it clear to the cubs. "Oh definitely not", Al added. "The fact Clarence is from the future is still not to be spread around to begin with...And The Hop getting struck by lightning years from now is not yet meant to be known". "Reasons like that are why it would be nice for Clarence to have pictures to take back with him", Marge affirmed. "And pictures of The Hop too", Donna added. "If lightning's gonna strike it one day". "We have two cameras", Al said. "Until Clarence returns to 2018, we should keep a camera and a supply of film in each of our cars". "Pictures with that Polaroid Highlander are going to be a little expensive though", Marge mentioned to Al. Al suggested to Marge, "You should keep the 35 mm in the station wagon being that you and the cubs get around more than I do. I'm at work most of the time when I'm away, so I'll keep the Polaroid in the Chrysler". "That would make sense", Marge agreed. "Besides that, I can't bring a camera into the lab being that we work on classified projects", Al mentioned. "How much film do we have for both cameras?", Marge then asked. "Not a lot for the Polaroid that I'm aware of", Al answered. "I think we used the last of the film for the 35 mm". "I'll go over to the W. M. Hindi Store and buy some film for both cameras after you leave for work", Marge said to Al. "Clarence also got those toy trucks", Rex said. "I remember he said those kind of toy trucks aren't made of real metal anymore in his day and time". "You should keep them when the day comes that you leave", Rex advised Clarence. "Can I take them back with me when the machine is fixed?", Clarence asked Al and Marge. "Why not? They're your trucks. We bought them for you", Al assured Clarence. Thus it was agreed to make it a practice of getting photos of lots of places and things when everyone was out and about...at least until when the time machine is finally repaired, and Clarence can have lots of photos from 1960 (possibly a box of them) to take back with him to 2018. After breakfast, Al got both the Polaroid Highlander camera and the Rolleiflex 35 mm camera out. "I got two more rolls of film for the Polaroid", Al mentioned, holding the film rolls with the camera. "You can get seven more pictures on the film in the 35". "Oh yea, we need some 35 mm", Marge acknowledged, then mentioned, "If you're taking the Polaroid to the Chrysler, how about taking the Rolleiflex to the Plymouth wagon being you're going that way". "That's where I'm headed now", Al replied on his way out to the cars. As Al stepped out the door to take the cameras to the cars, he mentioned, "Hey, it finally stopped raining", as the cubs cheered. There was a couple of hours left before Al had to be at work at Horizon Innovations Laboratories, so there was time to have some coffee with Marge, and time for Al and Marge to watch some TV with the cubs. While watching TV, Marge mentioned to Al, "You said the Plymouth wagon finally got the 500 mile break in period on it". "Five hundred miles came up on the odometer on my way back from getting the materials for the tree house yesterday", Al replied. "I'd like to try the station wagon out this morning", Marge said to Al. "But we know the speedometer only goes to 120". "Awright!", Rex exclaimed. "Yeaahh", Clarence and Donna cheered. "We're gonna find out how fast it can go today", Jed asked". "I'm sure that Plymouth can go faster than what it's speedometer reads", Al added. "That's what I wanted to ask you about", Marge said to Al. "Before you go to work, can you follow the cubs and I out on Highway 54, and check how fast the Plymouth can go checking it against the speedometer in the Chrysler". "Sure thing", Al agreed as the cubs cheered looking forward to testing the Plymouth wagon. "I'm sure the Plymouth won't exceed the 140 mph the Chrysler has on the speedometer". With that said and planned, there was still time to watch TV a while longer, have some more coffee, and for the cubs to have some Kool-Aid...And some of that cake from the Food Liner grocery store bakery in Santa Rosa. Shortly before Al would have normally left for work, it was now getting time for everyone to head out to the cars if the Plymouth Fury wagon was to be speed tested that morning. "If we're going to test the station wagon, now's the time to get going", Al announced as the cubs cheered. "Come on guys", Marge said to the cubs as she turned off the TV. "Right now, it feels to me like we're preparing to test a new airplane prototype out at the testing grounds", Al remarked as he and Marge chuckled. The back seats their nine passenger station wagon were left folded down as a cargo floor from the building materials run the evening before. As Rex, Clarence and Donna got in back, oldest son Jed sat up front with Mama Marge. After cranking up that 395, Golden Commando, V-8 engine of the Plymouth Fury wagon, Marge called to Al, "I'll have one of the cubs wave from the back window when we can't go any faster". "That's when I'll check my speedometer. Then I'll let you know what it is when I get off from work", Al replied, then cranked up the dual Quad, cross ram, 375 horsepower, V-8 engine of the Chrysler 300. "Now we'll see what our new station wagon can really do", Jed, who was sitting up front with Mama Marge, proclaimed as the other cubs cheered in agreement. After turning off of the neighborhood street eastbound onto Route 3 with Daddy Al following in the Chrysler 300, it was a drive of only a several hundred feet down Route 3 , past the Southern Pacific railroad crossing, then north onto Highway 54. Marge and the cubs proceeded north on 54 in the Plymouth Fury nine passenger wagon as Al followed in the Chrysler until they were out of the small community of Duran. "Hold on everyone. Here we go", Marge said to the cubs as she floored the accelerator petal, and that Plymouth Fury wagon with it's 395 Golden Commando V-8 took off as the old saying goes, like a bat out of Hell. "WOW! This car is quick like our Chrysler is!", Rex exclaimed. In practically no time at all, the Plymouth was well over 100 mph and still quickly gaining speed as Al followed one tenth of a mile behind. "Well. We're getting up to 120", Jed mentioned as he glanced over at the speedometer. "It's up to your dad to know how fast we're going now", Marge said as the speedometer maxed out at 120. "That's weird how that speedometer works", Clarence said as he took notice of how markers across the speedometer advanced in increments of 5 mph, instead by means of a typical analog needle. "That's the only thing I don't like about this car is that crazy speedometer", Marge affirmed as the acceleration began to level off. "Other than that, it's a great car". Donna made the observation, "Yeah. Ya hafta guess how fast you're going between the speeds that end in zeros and the speeds that end in fives". "Who ever designed that must of had rocks in their head", Jed jested. "Okay", Marge told the cubs. "This is as fast as this car can go". That was the cue for the cubs to wave to Al from the back window...Hence why the back seats were left down in cargo position so the cubs don't have to climb over the seats. Al, following in the Chrysler, noticed the cubs waving, then glanced at the Chrysler's 140 mph speedometer...It was reading 136 mph...Only a 9 mph difference from the 145 mph top speed their Chrysler 300 can achieve (When Al and Marge got the Chrysler 300 back in January, they took it to a drag strip on amateur night...That's how they know that car can go 145 mph). Al blinked the headlights to acknowledge he already made record of the speed. "Dad already knows now", Rex said. "Dad blinked the lights". "I see that", Marge affirmed, being she noticed that in the rear view mirror. "Wow! Almost as fast as our Chrysler!", Rex proclaimed as Al and Marge then slowed the cars down to 80 mph. "This car can go zoomy fast", six year old Donna added. "Zoomy?", Clarence replied to Donna. "I never heard that word before". "This car does have some get up and go", Jed mentioned to Marge. "It's a car I'm well pleased with", Marge affirmed. Al then tooted the horn as he passed by Marge and the cubs, on his way to work at the laboratory complex in the Chrysler. Marge tooted the horn in return. "What are we doing for today?", Jed asked Marge as Marge began to slow the car down to turn around. "Can't we go to Santa Rosa?", Donna asked as Marge turned the car around. "We should start getting pictures for Clarence to take back with him", Marge replied. "We're going back to Duran so we can go to the W. M. Hindi Store for more film". So as Al continued on his way to work, Marge and the cubs proceeded to the W. M. Hindi Store back in Duran for several rolls of 35 mm picture film for the Rolleiflex camera they have with them...and a few rolls of film for the Polaroid Highlander instant camera that Al will be taking around with him. Several minutes later, Marge and the cubs were pulling up in the Plymouth Fury station wagon at the W. M. Hindi Store in their home community of Duran. "Can we get some ice cream while we're here", Rex asked. "Not now", Marge replied as they made their way into the store. "You cubs had cake after we had breakfast this morning". While at the store, Marge purchased 10 rolls of 24 exposure, 35 mm film for the Rolleiflex, which was enough film to take 240 pictures...And it wasn't the standard black and white film either. It was colour film. Marge also purchased four rolls of film for the Polaroid. Zackary Bobcat, who was tending the store, commented, "Gee, Marge. You all must have a really special event coming up, getting all this film". "Actually, it's for a project the cubs have going", Marge replied, not being sure if Zachary Bobcat was aware that Clarence was from the 21st Century. "Hmm. Mighty expensive cub's project", Zachary thought as he rang up the sale as the NCR cash register sounded >Clickity-click-clack< with the numbered panels appearing in the register window for each item rang up. The cubs also knew by now to be careful about keeping the information about Clarence discreet. After the NCR cash register finished totaling the price >Clickity-clickity-clickity-click-clack< and the bell dinged as the cash draw opened, the purchase came to 7 dollars and 87 cents for the 10 rolls of 24 exposure, 35 mm, colour film and for 4 rolls of 12 exposure, Polaroid, instant camera film. After the purchase was made, Zachary Bobcat wished the cubs, "Good luck with your project". Marge and the cubs thanked Zachary, then it was to the station wagon and off to start getting pictures. Once everyone was back in the car, Jed asked, "What should we get pictures of first?". "Why not our place?", Rex suggested. As Marge finished loading a roll of film in the Rolleiflex camera, she made a sensible suggestion, "These pictures are going to be for Clarence to take back with him. Vaughn is Clarence's home town, so we should start with getting pictures around Vaughn". Clarence asked, "On the way, can we get a picture of the shed building the scientists at the lab built around the time machine?" "I don't see why not", Marge agreed as she started up the station wagon to proceed to Vaughn, then suggested, "We should also get a few pictures of the field where your dad and mom's house will be some day". Clarence couldn't help but to think how strange that will seem when he presents photos to his biological mom and dad, Charley and Alice, of the vacant field where the doublewide sits in the 21st Century...And the photo being brought by their son, Clarence, from 1960 at a time before Charley and Alice's parents were even born...And the photos still being brand new due to arriving from 1960 to 2018 in a time travel machine. It wasn't long before Marge and the cubs were nearing the time machine landing site just off of Highway 54. "Are there any cars behind", Marge asked, being sure there were no cars ahead in sight from the north. "It's all clear behind", Rex affirmed. "No cars in sight", Clarence added. Then upon arriving to the landing site, Marge slowed down and turned off the highway and drove behind the rock formation that hides the site from the highway. And there was the utility building that had been build around the time machine to insure that no curiosity seekers discover it. "That's my machine in there", Clarence commented as everyone got out of the car. "Your machine?", Marge replied as she was preparing to take a couple of pictures of the building. "As I understand it, it's government property you trespassed into in the year 2018". "Well...It's sorta mine I guess...In this day and time anyway", Clarence remarked as Marge and the other cubs chuckled. "I think Uncle Sam Eagle would say otherwise", Rex jested to Clarence as Marge got the first picture of the building. "Well, that machine in there is certainly not a government property issue here in 1960", Marge mentioned. "But there's no telling how authorities in 2018 will deal with it". "They won't put me in jail when I get back to 2018, will they?", Clarence asked Marge. "That's 58 years into the future from now", Marge told Clarence. "No one in this day and time has any idea how they'll deal with situations like this by then". "Well, it's not like you're a Soviet spy or something who stole it", Jed assured Clarence. "You're only an eight year old cub after all". "Given your situation, I'm sure they're not going to throw you in Alcatraz when you get back", Marge assured Clarence. Clarence then mentioned, "Actually, in the time I came from, Alcatraz had been closed down for years and years and years. And the Soviet Union collapsed back when my mom and dad were little cubs...By then, it's just plain ordinary Russia". "Wow. Things do change through time don't they", Marge replied as she got the next picture of the building with the rock formation in the background. After several pictures of the building were taken, it was back into the car to head for Vaughn. Marge had Jed stand within sight of the highway to make sure no cars were approaching before driving the Plymouth wagon out from behind the rock formation and in view of the highway. They were aware of that departure procedure the scientists use so curious motorists don't see cars coming and leaving, and then get to wondering what's back there. "All clear!", Jed called out upon being sure there were no cars in sight on that long straight stretch of Highway 54. After Marge drove out from the time machine landing site, she then stopped for Jed to get in, then they were off to Vaughn. On the way to Vaughn, Marge asked Clarence, "Clarence. Do you want to stop and get a picture of Highway 54 the way it is now?" Clarence replied, "This part of Highway 54 will still be the same way in my day and time. Nothing here will really change by 2018". With that said, Marge and the cubs continued on their way to Vaughn. Clarence then mentioned, "Just the lines are different. Instead of the lines being white, they'll be yellow". "What do you say I have Jed get a picture as were riding along?", Marge asked Clarence. "Yea. That will be good", Clarence agreed. As they rode along, Jed picked up the Rolleiflex camera that was on the front seat between him and Mama Marge. "Try to hold the camera still", Marge said to Jed, as Jed aimed it to view down the highway from the front seat of the car. "Got it", Jed said after he clicked the picture. "Some of the dashboard is in the picture too". "That reminds me", Marge said. "We should also get pictures of our cars". "Other cars too", Jed added. "I know all these cars now days don't seem unusual to us. But I remember Clarence saying how different cars will be in the future". "Way different too", Clarence affirmed. "Cars I've known all my life will be nothing like these cars are now days". It was then agreed, that when ever they meet or pass a car, Jed would pick up the camera and get a picture of it".
Just before arriving to Vaughn, Clarence pointed out the empty stretch of vacant land that is to be the site of his biological family's doublewide home some day. "It still looks strange not seeing home being there", Clarence mentioned as Marge slowed the car down and pulled off the highway. "I can imagine it does", Marge acknowledged. After stopping, and everyone was getting out of the car, Jed said to Clarence, "So this is your home...Or will be". "Right over there is where my mom and dad's double wide house will be", Clarence pointed out, then pointed out where the driveway, mailbox and utility sheds will be. "Our mailbox will be a plastic one by the way", Clarence further mentioned. "Plastic?!", Rex retorted. "Would that even be post office approved?" "In my day and time it is", Clarence answered. "A lot of them will be". "Plastic mailbox", Marge pondered as she began to take pictures of the future homestead. "Who would have thought?" Once pictures of the home site were taken, Clarence made mention of the nearby intersection of Highway 54 and Highway 60 being different...Highway 54 ran straight as the main road, and 60 tees into 54 at a simple intersection...However, in the 21st Century, Clarence remembers that Highway 60 will curve around as the main road, and 54 will tee into 60 with an elaborate intersection. So before heading on into Vaughn, Marge and the cubs went back a ways to that intersection and got a picture of it as it presently is in 1960...then it was off to Vaughn for more pictures. While they were there, they got pictures of businesses that Clarence pointed out would no longer be there in the 21st Century. They got pictures of lots of cars that were either brand new in 1960, or were only a few years old. Those were cars that ranged in model years from the early 1950s to brand new 1960 models. https://youtu.be/6UGRbdNmaiI?t=200 At one point, the 24 exposures were used up and another roll of film had to loaded into the camera. Some cars they got pictures of were brands that were no longer around in the 21st Century, such as Stubebaker, Packard, Hudson and Nash/Rambler...There were a few cars they encountered that were built in the 1930s and 1940s that were still on the road despite of their age.
https://youtu.be/6UGRbdNmaiI?t=204 In some car pictures, Marge even had the cubs standing near the car in the picture. They got pictures of the open stretch of land where the municipal airport would not yet be built until the 1970s. They got pictures of where Highway 54 went through town in 1960. The school that Clarence attended in the 21st Century was already there in 1960, which Marge did get a picture of the school building with Jed, Clarence, Rex and Donna standing out front. It was again time to reload the camera with another roll. And one set of pictures they were sure to get was the cross tracks junction of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Santa Fe Railroad. They even got a picture of the Santa Fe passenger depot west of town. https://youtu.be/6UGRbdNmaiI?t=117 The family remembered Clarence mentioning how by the 21 Century, that cross tracks junction outside of Vaughn will be replaced with a big flyover railroad overpass...which will be a big contrast to the way it presently is in 1960. https://youtu.be/1bCAqIPO5Kw?t=238 After the pictures in Vaughn, Marge and the cubs headed on up to Santa Rosa. The first stop was to get pictures of the Food Liner grocery store...After all, Clarence did mention that in the 21st Century that building will no longer be there, and will have been replaced with an A&P grocery store. "You know, Mom. I'm sure a lot of grocery brands won't be around 50 years from now", Jed mentioned to Marge. "They won't", Clarence affirmed. "The times we go here, I see lots of stuff I've never seen before. And I also don't see stuff we have 58 years from now either". "Good thinking", Marge said to Jed and Clarence. "We can get pictures of what's on the shelves" Before they could go in, Marge had to load another roll of film into the camera. Then Marge got a picture out front of the store with the cubs standing out front. Just before they went on inside, Marge instructed the cubs, "I might have to get permission to get pictures of in the store. So what we'll tell them is we're taking these pictures for our housebound neighbor to choose products from". "But we don't have a housebound neighbor though", Rex mentioned. "I know that", Marge said to Rex. "That's what we're going to tell them". "Oh, yea. Right right", Rex replied upon realizing the alibi was to avoid telling them about Clarence taking the photos to the year 2018. "Duhhh", Jed jested to Rex. "Okay now", Marge said to Jed as they went on into the store. Once in the store, Marge explained the alibi to the fox who was the manager. The store manager said there wouldn't be any problem, thus Marge and the cubs were able to get pictures inside the store, including of the products on the shelves. At one point Marge and the cubs had to go back to the car to load a fresh roll of film in the camera. Then they returned and even got pictures of the bakery and the deli. Clarence discreetly mentioned to Marge about the NCR clickity-click-clack cash regesters not being a thing of the 21st Century, so Marge got a picture of a register at one of the check-out isles. Once Marge and the cubs got the pictures they wanted, and were walking past the gumball machines on their way out of the store, Donna asked, "Can we get a picture of the gumball machines?". Being careful no one was listening in, Marge asked Clarence, "Will gumball machines be different in your time?" "They won't change very much by then", Clarence replied. "But you sure won't get a gumball for a penny". Thus it was agreed, "Let's get a picture of the gumball machines...especially where you can read the one cent price for a gumball". Once they headed back onto the streets in the car, the next thing they got pictures of was a stretch of Route 66 that had not yet been converted to Interstate 40, which ran east and west of, and through Santa Rosa...Going east of Santa Rosa a ways on 66, Marge and the cubs rode past a ferret hitch hiking with a guitar and a backpack. On the way back to Santa Rosa, Jed got a picture of the ferret hitch hiker, as Rex called at him from an open window, "Hey! King of rock -n- roll!". As the other cubs were laughing, Marge got on to Rex, "Rex! That's not right teasing someone like that who's down on their luck". "Oh. Okay, Mom", Rex acknowledged as the other cubs stopped laughing. Marge then said to Rex, "What goes around comes around. And you never know if you'll be in that situation some day, and someone teases you from a passing car". "I guess so", said Rex. "I guess I didn't think of that". "I did get a picture of him anyway", Jed said. Going west of Santa Rosa on 66, they even got a picture of The Hop. Then back in Santa Rosa, Marge drove to the church the family attends on Sunday mornings. "Will this church still be here?", Marge asked Clarence. "I never paid much attention to it. But I think it will be", Clarence answered. "With my actual family, we never went to church". Marge went ahead and got a picture of the church anyway. After reloading another roll of film into the camera, they got some more pictures around Santa Rosa, then headed back south on Highway 54 on their way back home in Duran. After passing through Pastura on the way back, the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks run parallel to Highway 54 for a while. And way up ahead, a headlight of a train can be seen. "Train coming!", Jed announced. "Didn't you say Union Pacific had bought out Southern Pacific by your day and time?", Marge asked Clarence as she promptly slowed the car down and pulled off the highway. "Yes. In my time, Southern Pacific is no more", Clarence replied as Jed picked up the camera, preparing to get pictures of the train. "We'll have some Southern Pacific train pictures for you then", Marge assured Clarence. "My original dad will like those when I make it back to 2018. Being he's an engineer for Union Pacific", Clarence said as Jed started getting pictures of the freight train as the three, grey and red, GP-40, Southern Pacific locomotives leading the train began passing by. Jed also got pictures of the freight cars, and finally pictures of the caboose as it finally passed by. "I'm glad you got the caboose", Clarence said to Jed. "You don't see cabooses anymore in my time". "I remember you once said that", Jed replied. "You got lucky. You barely did get that caboose too", Marge said to Jed as she was checking the tiny red exposure indicator window on the camera. "What do you mean, Mom?", Jed asked. "The last picture you took of the caboose was the last exposure on that roll of film", Marge said. "We need to reload before we take off". "Wow, Jed", said Rex. "That was close". "Ya got it though", Donna affirmed. Once Marge got another roll of film loaded into the camera, they were back on their way along Highway 54 headed home. Not long before arriving to Vaughn, Marge noticed in the rear view mirror, a gasoline tanker, tractor and trailer rig still far behind on Highway 54. They had some time before the truck approached, so Marge pulled over and had Jed take position with the 35mm camera across the highway. "Look both ways", Marge reminded Jed just before he crossed the highway. Within a minute, the truck arrived. It was the Esso tanker rig making it's daily run to points south in the state.
As the truck sped by, Jed said, "Got it!", as he got a good picture of it. After Jed got back in the car with the camera, they proceeded to town of Vaughn. Going through Vaughn on their way back home, Rex spotted that 1959 Cadillac that Biff and Richie Pitbull's parents own, which was parked on a streetside.
"More than likely out looking for trouble", Marge remarked. "My feeling is, those boys don't really deserve that nice car their dad lets them have". "And I heard they steal gumball machines too", Rex added. "I've heard that too", Marge replied. "Their parents never raised them. Their mom and dad jerked them up". "That's why they're jerks. Right, Mom?", Donna asked as the other cubs laughed. "You're so right", Marge replied to Donna. The Cadillac was presently unoccupied, so they went ahead with getting a picture of it as long as the pit bulls weren't around. Only moments after taking the picture, Marge and the cubs noticed Biff, Richie, their other stooge Gaston, and their girl friends; Sandra, Roxanne and Ava being kicked out of an auto parts store where they obviously started some trouble. As the six pit bull youths were making their way to that big Cadillac, the wolverine who owned the store was shouting at them from the doorway, and warning them not to come back...And the confrontation was loud enough for Marge and the cubs to hear it a half a block away at their Plymouth Fury wagon. At one point, Marge and the cubs noticed Biff Pitbull shaking his fist directed toward the wolverine who owned the store. The store owner then shouted at Biff, "Bring it on, wise ass! A pit bull ain't gonna do well going up against a wolverine, and you know it!". "Wow! That wolverine's really flippin' his wig at Biff", Rex proclaimed. "I don't blame him", Marge added. Once all six of the pit bull delinquent youths were in the car, Biff floored the gas in that Cadillac, smoking the rear tires as they took off racing down the street. "Don't any of you cubs start being like that bunch of hooligans", Marge said to the cubs. "No way. I never wanna be like those dumb-dumbs", Jed replied as the other cubs agreed, then said, "Oh by the way, I got a picture of Biff lightin' up the tires of his dad's Cadillac". "You did? I guess Biff likes to see his daddy put out money buying tires", Marge replied as she and the cubs had a good laugh. Shortly after continuing through Vaughn, Marge and the cubs saw Danny Otter, who driving his Studebaker Golden Hawk. Marge blew the horn and motioned Danny to pull over, then asked, "Danny. Can we get a picture of your car with you and the cubs standing in the picture. "Sure. I'd be glad to", Danny Otter replied as he stepped out of his car. "What's up with the picture if you mind my asking?" Marge replied, "Oh, the cubs really like your car. And I've been promising them I'd get a picture of it". "Oh cool", Danny Otter said. "I'm really proud of this car you know". Marge couldn't tell Danny the real reason for the picture. Although Danny's dad, Greg Otter, is one of the scientists involved in the repair effort to the time machine, Greg Otter and his wife, Maria, have withheld that information from Danny and his older brother about Clarence being from the future, and about the existance of a time travel machine Greg had been helping the other scientists to design. As the cubs made their way to Danny Otter's Studebaker, Rex said, "I'd like to have a car like this one day". "Good choice, Kiddo", Danny Otter replied. "It won't beat our dad's Chrysler 300 though", Donna proclaimed. "Well, I did ask your dad one time if he wanted to race me...Remember?", Danny Otter replied to six year old Donna Coyote. "And my husband agreed, only if it would be on the drag strip. Not on a public highway...Remember?", Marge Coyote interjected to Danny. "Yea, well. I guess", Danny replied. As Danny and the cubs stood beside that high performance Golden Hawk, Marge got a good picture of it. After Marge thanked Danny, everyone got back in their cars, Danny Otter continued criusing around looking for a fellow teenager to have a road race with, and Marge and the cubs continued on back to Duran. As Marge and the cubs arrived back to Duran, Clarence did mention that the W. M. Hindi Store will have been an abandoned building by the 21st Century. Thus Marge and the cubs did get a picture of the W. M. Hindi Store. After Clarence telling Marge and the other cubs that all railroad crossing signals will be standardized, and with crossing gates, they also got a picture of the Southren Pacific railroad crossing at Route 3 not far from the house...That crossing didn't have gates, and had a set of wig-wag pendulum lights mounted above the road...something no longer seen by the 21st Century.
They also got pictures of the railroad signals beside the tracks which were for the trains...Those too would be different 58 years later.
And other things that Clarence knows will be different in the future, they also got pictures of. Those neighbors and their cubs who already knew Clarence was from the future were invited to have pictures taken of them and Clarence...They were certainly flattered when they were told that Clarence will be taking those pictures back to 2018 with him. Many of them mentioned that they were looking forward to seeing those pictures again 58 years later if they lived long enough to be around by then. Ryan Lynx even agreed to have a picture taken of Clarence sitting on his go-kart.
A picture was also taken of Randy Fox pulling a Radio-Flyer wagon with younger cubs riding in it, and Clarence pushing the wagon from behind. Then the toy wagon was detached from Ryan Lynx's go-kart, and pictures were taken of cubs taking turns pushing the wagon from behind while another cub sat in the wagon with the handle pulled back steering the wagon. Clarence and Cheryl had been lovers since shortly after Clarence arrived to 1960 back in February. And even though they both knew Cheryl can't go to 2018 with Clarence, they did get their pictures taken with each other...with some pictures of them hugging each other...There would be photos made of those pictures for both Clarence and Cheryl which would be an archive of the cherished moments they had together. Marge then mentioned, "I just thought of something. All along, we've been missing the opportunity to get movies of this occasion". "You gonna get the movie camera, Mom", Donna asked. Clarence then interjected, "Yea, but there won't be a way to play those movies in my day and time. Movie camera stuff will be obsolete by then". "Aw, that rules that out", said Frank Coyote, who is Jerald, Dotty and Cheryl's dad. "But wait a minute", Clarence spoke up, remembering something. "I recall hearing that they can take those camera movies and transfer it to VCRs and DVDs from them". "VCRs and DVDs?", Frank Coyote's wife, Wanda, asked bewilderdly. "It's what we have as movie media in the future", Clarence explained. "VCR is obsolete by then...It's a tape cartridge, and they hang up sometimes...But we will still have DVDs...and flashdrives". Clarence continued to explain, "DVDs are like one of those music records in this day and time that you play on a record player. But it's a lot smaller, and shiny on one side, and plays in a laptop with pictures and sound". "Well, you do know we won't have sound from our 8mm movies. And they'll be in black and white", Marge informed Clarence. "But with what you just told us about them transferring movie footage to those record disks you mentioned, I will get our 8mm movie camera". Thus, 8mm movies were also made of that day in the summer of 1960...However, Clarence did express doubts that the service to transfer movies to DVD might not still be available by 2018. "It seems to me, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not completely sure if that service will still be around by 2018", Clarence mentioned. "Looks like we might be back to, aw that rules that out again", Frank Coyote said. "I got an idea", Rex suggested, "What about if we keep the movies with us when Clarence leaves? And we can have them transferred in the 1990s years later". Marge did mentioned to Rex, "If Clarence left the movies with everyone in 1960 to have them transfered years later sometime in the 1990s, the film might be deteriorated through age by then". "Going through nearly 60 years will turn those movies yellow by 2018", Frank mentioned. "At least the film will still be new in 2018 if Clarence takes the movies with him". Thus it was agreed that Clarence would take the movies with him in the time machine, and take the chance of finding a photo facility that would transfer them to DVD...At least by being carried to 2018 in the time machine, the film that the movies are on would, as Frank mentioned, still be brand new in 2018. Frank Coyote did mention to Clarence, "Wait a minute. If all else fails in finding that service in 2018, you might still find an 8mm movie projector in a thrift shop or in an antique store". "Oh, hold up", Marge exclaimed. "I'll speak to Al about this one. We could buy an 8mm projector for Clarence to take back to 2018 with him". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rsaiu9SHU4 https://youtu.be/uCB3sJ-DlUI?t=148 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfmOFW0Go5g "Yea. That way, Clarence won't have to be concerned with finding that service you talked about", Frank Coyote mentioned. "And being a brand new projector, it's sure to be in working order when Clarence gets back to 2018", Wanda Coyote added. "And can you get me a movie camera to go with it?!", Clarence asked with glee, before he really thought about what he was saying. "Will you be able to get film for an 8mm movie camera in 2018?", Marge asked Clarence. "Oh, I guess not". I wasn't thinking about that", Clarence admitted, then paused a moment and suggested what he thought was a good idea, "But if you can get me a supply of movie film, I'd have some for a camera if you got me one". Frank then mentioned to Clarence, "From what you've been telling us, I doubt anyone in 2018 will be able to develop movie film, even if you did take a supply of it back with you". "Oh yea. I forgot about that too", Clarence admitted. "Yes, it has to be developed", Marge affirmed to Clarence. "We're getting the projector for you so you'll have a way to play movies for everyone in 2018 of what we're filming for you now". With all that out of the way, Marge went to the house and got their Revere, 8mm, movie camera. Another image they were sure to get was when the Mr. Softee ice cream truck came into the neighborhood. https://youtu.be/WsCDGY8e0P8?t=5 The driver of the ice cream truck was curious as to why pictures and movie film were being taken of the truck. Marge used the alibi, "We have a cousin in West Virginia where they don't have ice cream trucks. And she asked us to send her some pictures and movies of one". "That's right", Wanda Coyote agreed, knowing that they can't tell the Mr. Softee ice cream truck driver about Clarence being from the future, and that the photos and movies were to be taken to the year 2018. "Oh, well, that's cool", the ice cream truck driver replied. "Get all the pictures you want". While the Mr. Softee ice cream truck was still there, Marge did get ice cream cones for the cubs. After the Mr. Softee truck left, Marge and the cubs took pictures of in and around their house. They even got pictures and movie footage of the 0-27 gauge train board the cubs have, including setting the movie camera down on the train board to film model trains going by as though the camera was a bystander watching trains go by...The cubs thought that was really cool, and it would be so wonderful for Clarence to take back with him. They also got pictures and movie footage of a real train as well...When it was getting time for the passenger train to come through Duran, heading back on it's daytime northbound run, everyone went out to the south outskirts of Duran. "I see the headlight now", Frank said as the train's light can be seen down the tracks on the southern horizon, and with it's Mars-light giving that flashing effect indicating the train is moving at high speed. "Let's get back a ways so the pictures won't be blurry", Marge advised, as she had the movie camera, and Jed had the 35mm camera. "Yup. That train's going to come through here mighty fast", Frank suggested as the train got closer. "It's getting closer now", Randy Fox observed. Just before they got back away from the tracks, Rex placed a penny on one of the rails. "That's just a penny, isn't it?", Marge asked Rex. "Yes it is, Mom", Rex replied. "Okay. As long as you're not wasting dimes and quarters", Marge replied. "Can't you go to jail for that?!", Clarence exclaimed, being use to the strict laws of the 21st Century about being around railroad tracks. "For putting a penny on the tracks?", Jed replied as everyone looked at Clarence a bit strange. "Cubs do it all the time", Frank said to Clarence. "Wow", said Clarence. "In my day and time, if you tried something like that, they'd think you were trying to blow up the tracks or something". "Blow up the tracks?", Randy Fox retorted in almost total disbelief. "Boy, that's silly!", Rex replied. At the speed that northbound passenger train was going, they didn't have to wait long for it to arrive.
As the locomotive speed by, everyone waved as the engineer and his assistant waved back. As the baggage car and coaches in the rest of the train sped by, Marge continued to record it on 8mm movie film, and Jed got a few pictures as he'd snap a picture then would hurriedly advance the film to get more shots. Then, right after the last coach sped away, they heard the train blow it's horn for the Route 3 crossing in Duran, which was not far from the house...the horn sounding a long - long - short - long. After the train went by, Rex went back to find that penny. "There it is", Frank pointed out the flattened penny laying on the ballast near a railroad tie. "Lookie here at this!", Rex proudly boasted as he held up the penny, that was flattened to nearly the thickness of a business card and stretched nearly three inches long. "A train did that to a penny!...Woah!", Clarence exclaimed in total amazement. "You never saw a penny run over by a train?", Randy Fox asked Clarence. "This is the first time I've ever seen that done", Clarence replied. After they got the pictures of the train, Marge made mention about getting a picture of the reel blade lawn mower that Randy Fox's parents have, which was even in that time a relic from the past.
There were a couple of other mowers they took pictures of, including their own, brand new, Toro mower.
By now, Clarence was getting quite a photo archive of 1960 accumulated to take back with him to 2018...Not to mention all the toys that Al and Marge had bought for him over the past five months...These were the hard metal, realistic looking toy trucks and heavy equipment that you don't find anymore in the 21st century. These toys were not the cheesy, plastic, corny looking crap that were common in the 21st century.
______________________________ That afternoon, when Al got off from work, he took a picture of the laboratory complex buildings. Al remembered Clarence saying that in the 21st Century, the laboratory complex will be in Roswell after the Air Force base closure will take place in 1967. Al was tempted to take more pictures on the way back home. But he did promise he'd begin building the tree house for the cubs after he gets off from work, thus no time fore more pictures today. When Al arrived home, Marge and the cubs told of all the pictures they've taken that day. Al mentioned that he got pictures of the Horizon Innovations Laboratory Complex, but didn't get anymore pictures because he wanted to get home after that so he can get started on the tree house for the cubs. "Oh boy! Our tree house!", Rex proclaimed. "We gonna get it built now?!", Jed asked. "We'll get it started now", Al answered, "I'm sure we'll have it finished tomorrow". "Yippieeee!", Donna rejoiced. "That will be so cool", Clarence added. "Oh by the way. How fast did our Plymouth station wagon go this morning?", Marge asked Al. "When I checked the speedometer on the Chrysler, it was 136 mph", Al answered. "Yeaaahhhh!", the cubs cheered. "That's fast enough to keep me happy", Marge replied, then thanked her husband with a kiss and said, "Al, thank you again for getting me that 2nd car we've been needing". "My pleasure, Honey", Al replied. "It did bother me seeing you and the cubs without transportation while I was at work. Marge then explained to Al how she was also taking movie footage for Clarence to take back...But Clarence mentioned that movie film was obsolete in Clarence's day and time. "We could buy a movie projector for Clarence to take back with him in the time machine so he can play the movies for everyone in his time", Al mentioned. "You're ahead of me on that same page", Marge said to Al. "Frank, Wanda and I had that same discussion". "That would be a good idea provided we're getting a lot of movie film for Clarence", Al agreed. "Clarence might not be able to find a used projector in 2018. And without a way to play the movies you're taking now, those movies would be for nothing" "First thing tomorrow, I'll have W. M. Hindi order an 8mm projector from the Sears Catalog", Marge affirmed. "Lamp bulbs for that projector might not be in production by 2018", Al mentioned to Marge. "You should also order a case of 24 while you're ordering the projector". "Good thinking", Marge complimented Al. "Those do blow out sometimes". "I can only imagine how valuable a 1960 movie projector will be in 2018", Jed remarked. "And in new condition". "Well, it won't be for sale, even for a million dollars, as long as I got the movies we're taking now", Clarence promised. "I don't blame you, Son", Al said to Clarence. Of course, Al did address Clarence as "Son"...After all, as long as Clarence is in 1960, Al and Marge are Clarence's mom and dad, Rex and Jed are Clarence's brothers, and Donna is Clarence's sister...After all, being that Clarence had accidentally went back to a time era before his actual family ever existed, it is a beautiful blessing that he has a loving family he can identify with as being "his family". Then...as Al promised the cubs...It was time to get started on building the tree house. "Yeaaahhh!", the cubs cheered as Al began getting the tools and materials out to get the project started. As Al and the cubs began building the tree house, Marge got pictures of various phases of construction. There was a point where the ten rolls of 35 mm film were used up. "I still have some Polaroid film we can use", Al suggested. "For that camera, that would be expensive though", Marge retorted. Thus it was agreed for Marge to go to the W. M. Hindi Store to buy a few more rolls of 35 mm film...And just in time too...Marge made it to the store not long before it was about to close for the night. That evening, a lot of progress was accomplished on the tree house, and with photo documentation made of it as well. As it was getting dark in the late evening as night time was setting in, work discontinued on the tree house until the following morning. It had been a wonderful day, and Al speculated that the tree house will be completed by tomorrow...That was a bit of news that got a cheer from the cubs". It was then time to have supper, watch some TV, get a shower, then get to bed...Tomorrow was going to be a busy day getting the treehouse finished. Of course there were going to be more movies and pictures taken for Clarence in the days to come before the time machine can eventually be fixed...However, Jed was wanting to get a picture of the railroad crossing signals at Route three lit up at night as the southbound passenger train came through Duran at 2:07 am. Being that Jed was getting old enough to take on responsibility, Al and Marge agreed to let Jed do so that night. Thus Jed set the boy's bedroom alarm clock for 1:55 am. A few hours later, at 1:55 am, the alarm clock rang, and not long before 2:00 am, Jed got the 35mm Rolleiflex camera from Marge to get the picture. "Now you know not much is going to show up in the picture this late at night", Marge advised Jed. "We're out of flashbulbs. And this is not night sensitive film". "As long as I can get the signal lights, that would be good", Jed affirmed. It was already agreed that the picture would be taken from the other side of the tracks being there were parking lot lights at business on a corner of the nearby intersection of Route 3 and Highway 54. Those lights would somewhat light up that side of the train. "Well, you be careful crossing those tracks with that train on the way", Al advised Jed as Marge gave him the camera. "And don't cross if the train is too close", Marge added. "Okay?" "I'll be careful", Jed promised Mom and Dad. "Can I come along?", Rex asked as he entered Al and Marge's bedroom. "You let your older brother take care of this", Al told Rex. "You and the others stay here". "Aw shucks", Rex retorted as Jed left with the camera. Then in no time at all, Jed was making double time with the camera to the crossing which was not very far from the house. As Jed got to the crossing and looked down the tracks to the north, the headlight of the passenger train could already be seen at a distance, along with the train's Mars-light giving that flash effect from it's circular sweeping motion.
Jed got a picture of the distant headlight and Semaphore signals, which how well that picture turns out taken in the dark will be known when the film gets developed. Jed then crossed to the other side of the tracks and got the camera ready. Not long after Jed crossed the tracks, the red lights began flashing as the bell began clanging and the pendulum lights at top began swinging...No gates though...Very few crossings had gates back in those days. "Awright", Jed said as he got the camera into position as the approaching train's horn sounded off with a long - long - short - long. Then, in a >SWOOSH<, the 80 mph passenger train began speeding by.
Jed snapped the picture right as the baggage car sped by in line with the signals.
That train went by about in the same way the one in the below link did; https://youtu.be/uNwAEptoNl0?t=93 As the coaches sped by with the wheels rapidly clickety clacking on the tracks, Jed could barely get glimpses flashing by of the passengers aboard the train.
"Where is it! Where is it!", Jed quickly said to himself, fumbling in the dark to find the camera's film advance. Jed finally found it and advanced the film just in time to also get the flashing images of a raccoon and an otter at the windows of the last coach speeding by...Although the train was speeding by so fast, Jed couldn't make out for sure what species the passengers were.
After the crossing lights stopped flashing as the bell stopped clanging, Jed got a picture of the tail light of the train going away, in which he also caught the headlights of a car on Highway 54 in the picture.
Jed then took a picture of the Semaphore signals that had changed since the train went by. In that picture, Jed again caught the same car heading along north on Highway 54, which Jed could tell by the car's tail lights and low body profile, it was a 1960 Chevy.
Now that Jed had gotten the pictures, he was confident the photos would be to his satisfaction when they take the film to get developed. As Jed crossed back over the crossing, he watched to the south at the red tail light of the train going further away into the pre-dawn night darkness.
Jed continued watching the red tail light down the tracks fade out of view as it got further away, and until it was out of sight.
Once the train's tail light had gone out of sight, Jed then headed back to the house. Once Jed got back to the house, he announced, "I think I got it". "We'll all know when it get's developed", Al mentioned. "Well, it's past 2:00 am, and time to get back to bed", Marge said as everyone agreed. "That's right", Al added. "Tomorrow's Saturday, and I know we all want to get an early start continuing on that tree house". No one had to mention a 2nd time to the cubs about continuing on the tree house early in the morning...That was plenty of incentive for the cubs to head straight back to bed. So with the camera being put back where it won't be forgotten to be brought out to the Plymouth wagon by morning, everyone went back to bed to get a good night's sleep.
To be continued.
For those who are not old enough to remember them, here are two videos showing a Mars-light on a train; https://youtu.be/UTFM1kIzIvU?t=32
With it looking like the time machine could be repaired, everyone figured it would be nice for Clarence to have some photos from 1960 to take back with him.
In parts of this story, including this part 30, the Mr. Softee ice cream truck makes an appearance. With that being so, I'm sharing a doo-wop song about the Mr. Softee ice cream truck. Admittingly, the song was released in 2005 as a doo-wop revival song, and is not an actual old song, though the song does go cool with the ice cream truck. The Crystalairs - Mr. Softee; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxU3TUI3Ld0
Parts of this story are also in the pool named "Project Courier".
____________________________________________________________________ Throughout this story, multiple links to songs are being set up. That is because Youtube is aggressively shutting down accounts that have music videos. So in case you click a link and get their notice like shown below, there are two other links to the same song;
No speed limit in New Mexico back then? And as for train tracks, playing on them is unsafe, not an unusual death at one point, can end you with a $10,000 fine... too many mulching's.
No speed limit in New Mexico back then? And as for train tracks, playing on them is unsafe, not an u
There was no speed limit on open highways in New Mexico until about 1949. A lot of the characters in the story still speed in 1960 though it is seldom any of them are ever caught. In the story, they'd crack down on a couple of drivers having a road race more than they would on someone simply speeding.
As for being near or on the railroad tracks. That was a normal thing in those days. Back when I was a kid, my brothers and sisters and I would put pennies on the rails for the trains to flatten out. Sometimes we would go to the tracks to watch trains go by. No one gave any thought about it except to remind us to watch out for trains, stay away from switches and no prolonged standing on the tracks.
There was no speed limit on open highways in New Mexico until about 1949. A lot of the characters in
We were always told to look both ways down the tracks occasionally. And don't mill around the tracks near a curve.
It was also made known to us that because trains roll steel wheels on steel rails, trying to stop one is like trying to stop an automobile on an icy road.
As far as not being allowed around railroad tracks any more, I'm sure that has everything with all this post 911 Homeland Security stuff now days...They're afraid someone is going to blow up the tracks I guess.
We were always told to look both ways down the tracks occasionally. And don't mill around the tracks