I remember waiting in the weeds, at the foot of West Grand Blvd, in Detroit,and catching a drag coming out of the boat yard, and winding up in the Wabash Melvindale yard.
I remember a couple of rail cops taking me and my buddy to breakfast in some local diner, and returning us to the yard, and telling us to wait at the edge of the yard, and the trains would still be going slow enough to jump on.
I remember a train crew telling us to "climb up in the second unit, and don't touch anything. You'll be safer there".
I remember a conductor saying "I've got a son your age. C'mon back and ride in the caboose. You'll be safer there".
I remember riding south through Tennessee in a boxcar, on the old Gulf, Mobile and Ohio, pulled by an assortment of Alco FA units and RS-1s.
I remember hopping on an L&N freight, right off the passenger platform, in Mobile, Alabama, one hot, steamy night in July, while waiting passengers stood there with their mouths hanging open.
I remember my grandma taking me to watch trains in Detroit, and seeing steam locomotives pulling trains into the Detroit Union Terminal on Fort Street.
I remember watching the Chesapeake and Ohio streamliner pulling into the same depot.
I remember the car ferrys on the Detroit river, running around the clock, non stop.
I remember hearing the steam whistles of the locomotives and boats on the river, late at night, while staying at my grandmas house near the Ambassador Bridge, in Detroit.
I remember picnics at Belle Isle.
I remember the balloon man and the Good Humor man, and the Italian produce guy who came through the neighborhood every afternoon.
I remember riding the Woodward streetcar from downtown out to the fairgrounds and back, just for the fun of it.
I remember the Olympia, and a time when hockey players didn't wear those weenie helmets.
I remember Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, and Alex Delvicchio.
I remember seeing Ricky Nelson and Elvis at the Olympia.
I remember Soupy Sales.
I remember when no stores were open on Sunday.
I remember Hudsons and Kerns at Christmas.
I remember the Western Auto stores, and their Christmas toy catalog.
I remember when every kids mom was home after school, making dinner, and we couldn't get in trouble, because someones parents were always home.
I remember when Detroit was the fifth largest city in the United States, and everybody had a job, and all the factorys along the river were open and busy. Guess I better stop right there.
"Ask your doctor if medical advice from a TV commercial is right for you".