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The train information in this chapter comes from Wikipedia

Chapter 17

During the ride up Jason learned that Cameron liked to listen to music in the car. Elizabeth didn't play kids songs. She told Jason that too much of that could make you homicidal. Instead she played classical music. The little boy really liked anything that featured the cello. They listened to tapes in their motel rooms and at the house. Since this car didn't have a cassette player she was going to have to get some CDs. For now she turned on the radio. Today if they got a break Jason would call and have some sent to the house.

They pulled up to the brick and glass building and Cameron was leaning as far out of his seat as he could. From the parking lot you could see into the main hall and several steam engines were displayed. Jason got out of the car nodding to Milo and Kyle who had followed them. On the other side Elizabeth was talking to Cameron. Laying down the rules for the outing. The most important of which was staying with the group.

She took his hand and everyone started for the main entrance. The guys were hanging back a bit so as to not crowd Cameron. Before they reached the door he stopped and tugged on Elizabeth's hand. She bent down for a quick discussion nodding her head at the end.

Cameron looked at Jason, and then back up to his mom. With her hand holding his they walked back to where the big man was standing. Cameron was only a little scared but mommy said it was okay. She didn't tell lies. Slowly, in case mommy was wrong, he wrapped his hand around two of Jason's fingers.

Jason looked down at the little boy who was looking at his shoes. That Cameron wanted to hold his hand too made the mob boss smile. He swore his chest puffed out from the trust that was being extended.

"Okay, it's time to go see some trains." Elizabeth said smiling wide, leading her guys into the building.

Jason got them a membership and they walked into the main hall. It was huge and about twenty steam engines were on display. Mammoth machines that once crisscrossed America delivering people, animals, and goods from one coast to the other. The large space was on the cool side, but that wasn't why Cameron was trembling. It was from excitement.

"This is pretty cool." Milo said softly grinning.

"I've never been here, but I wanted to come." Kyle said in agreement. He liked trains too.

"Which one would you like to see first?" Elizabeth asked her son.

He released Jason's hand and shyly pointed to the closest engine. He looked at his mom and then up at Jason to make sure it was okay. Jason was the one who nodded and Cameron walked over to have a closer look at the machine.

Jason hadn't really ever given trains much thought. Turned out they were pretty fascinating. He was a history buff so to get an up close look at the machines that helped make the country what it was today interested him. Most of the trains had large plagues in front of them telling you what they did and what part of the country they ran across.

Some trains were special. He also learned they were divided into classes, something he didn't know. Most classes were by number but some had names. The Baltimore & Ohio class, The PRR (Pennsylvania Rail Road), The Great Western, Southern, and The Union Pacific Big Boy. That last class were among the largest trains to run on American rails.

The Big Boy engines seemed to be Cameron's favorites. They stopped in front of one of two from that class and the little boy gently touched the colorful display. Elizabeth lifted him onto her hip so that he could see it. At his whisper she looked over to Jason. "Cameron would like to know if you would please read that."

"Sure buddy." Jason looked it over quickly before starting. "Union Pacific (UP) introduced the Challenger-type (4-6-6-4) locomotives in 1936 on its main line across Wyoming. For most of the way, the maximum grade is 0.82% in either direction, but the climb eastward from Ogden, Utah into the Wasatch Range reached 1.14%. Hauling a 3,600-short-ton (3,300 t; 3,200-long-ton) freight train demanded double heading and helper operations, and adding and removing helper engines slowed operations.

The answer was to design a new locomotive, but for such locomotives to be worthwhile, they had to be faster and more powerful than slower locomotives like earlier compound 2-8-8-0s that UP tried after World War I. To avoid locomotive changes, the new class would need to pull long trains at sustained speed—60 miles per hour (100 km/h)—once past mountain grades. (The 1950s Wyoming Division timetables allowed them to travel at 50 mph (80 km/h) or less, passenger or freight.)

Led by mechanic Otto Jabelmann, the railroad's design team worked with Alco to re-examine their Challengers. They found that the goals could be achieved by making several changes to the Challenger design, including enlarging the firebox to approximately 235 by 96 inches (5.97 m × 2.44 m) (about 155 sq. ft. or 14.4 m2), lengthening the boiler, adding four driving wheels and reducing the size of the driving wheels from 69 to 68 in (1,753 to 1,727 mm).

The Big Boys are articulated, like the Mallet locomotive design. They were designed for stability at 60 miles per hour (100 km/h). They were built with a wide margin of reliability and safety, as they normally operated well below that speed in freight service. Peak horsepower was reached at about 35 mph (56 km/h); optimal tractive effort, at about 10 mph (16 km/h).

Without the tender, the Big Boy had the longest engine body of any reciprocating steam locomotive." Jason finished up. "Pretty cool, huh?"

Cameron nodded even though he didn't understand most of that. He squirmed wanting to get down. This train was one that could be explored and he wanted to look inside. Mommy came with him and they looked at the knobs and button. They got to turn the wheel and look at the firebox. It was the coolest thing ever. Leaning out the window Cameron waved to Jason, Milo, and mommy's guard whose name he didn't know yet.

Elizabeth came out first and Jason came over to help her down. "There's a camera on your phone." He said pointing up to Cameron who was framed in the window.

"Cameron, smile." She called out and when he did she snapped the picture. "He won't ever forget this Jason, thank you."

"I'm having fun too. When's he older if he still likes trains we could maybe do a model. Edward can recommend a good one." Jason watched Cameron carefully climb down. He shyly pointed to the next engine and when he got approval dashed off to check it out. The adults all trailed behind.

They took a break for lunch. When he was really enjoying something Cameron could be mulish about stopping. That was not a problem today because the restaurant was housed in an actual train car. He couldn't wait to go, and the promise of more trains after they finished eating got him to clean his plate.

The afternoon was spent in the outer train yard. This area housed the diesel engines as well as a few steam engines. These weren't restored yet so Cameron couldn't climb aboard, but he still enjoyed getting to see them.

The highlight of the day came when they got to ride on one of the steam engine pulled trains. Everyday there was a one hour round trip excursion. Today's engine was a Great Western out of Colorado. They sat up front in one of the open air cars and Cameron grinned the entire time. As far Elizabeth could tell this was the best day of Cameron's life.

"Ready to go home?" Elizabeth asked as Cameron's eyes began to droop. It was only three but he had skipped his nap. He'd sleep on the ride home and be ready for dinner with Ben.

Cameron simply let his head fall to his mother's shoulder as he shook it no. He wanted to see more trains, but he was so tired. He was having the bestest time.

"We can come back again." Jason said softly, noticing the little guy fighting sleep.

"How does that sound, would you like to come back sometime?" Elizabeth asked rubbing his back to help him relax.

"Kay." He said on the softest whisper that only his mom could hear before succumbing to exhaustion.

"We can head home now." Elizabeth said on a soft laugh. "Would you like to carry him to the car?" She could see the desire in Jason's eyes.

"Yeah." He gently took the sleeping child and this time Cameron cuddled closer. At the car Jason didn't want to let him go, but strapped him in. "Will he sleep the whole way back?"

"Probably." Elizabeth got in when Jason opened the door. "Is the painting done?"

"The job was finished a couple of hours ago. Johnny went over to check he sent me a text saying it looks good." Jason was anxious to see both spaces, especially Cameron's.

Jason put Cameron on the couch and ran up the steps. He heard Elizabeth following him. "Can you look in your room and make sure you're happy with what was done?" He didn't want to violate her space by walking in without her permission.

"Sure." Elizabeth opened the door and smiled. The light green was very peaceful. A new comforter in dark green was across the queen sized bed. The furniture gleamed in the sunlight that came in through the window. Gauzy white curtains were framed by darker green floor length curtains. This room would give her some serenity at the end of the day. "It's perfect." She wondered how long she would use it for.

"Good." He wanted her happy in the space. Hopefully she wouldn't be using it for too long. Jason wanted her in his room. "I want to peek in Cameron's room before he wakes up."

"Me too." Elizabeth admitted. "After this we'll go get him. If he sleeps too long he will have trouble sleeping tonight."

Jason opened the door and they stepped inside. He couldn't help but smile at what greeted him.

"Jason he is going to love it." Elizabeth said putting her hand on his arm. The blue was perfect. The train bed was assembled and on one side of the room with Chuggin Charlie linens that matched the curtains. The closet door had been painted blue, red and yellow with Charlie's number on the top inset. On the far side of the room there was a desk for Cameron to draw at, a book shelf filled with books and a train table with wooden tracks already assembled in a lay out just waiting for the little boy to come play. Just below the ceiling a border ran around the room of Charlie and his friends. That was what Jason had called earlier to arrange.

"The train table and trains are from Alan and Monica." They could see the filled bins from the doorway. Behind the train table were low freestanding shelves with buildings from the island the locomotives lived on. Cameron could live out any scenario his imagination came up with.

"That was incredibly generous of them." Elizabeth said softly. Especially considering they hadn't even met Cameron yet. "We should go get him. He can start exploring before dinner."

"Do you think he'll let me read him another story tonight?" Jason asked hopefully.

"I think that can be arranged." Elizabeth said taking his hand in hers as they went to get their son.

Dinner was fun and Jason did indeed get to read Cameron another bed time story. The little boy had spent a good fifteen minutes looking through his new library trying to figure out which story he wanted to hear. Once again he fell asleep on Elizabeth's lap and Jason got to carry him upstairs.

"So, more hot chocolate?" Jason asked as they were standing in the hall.

"You had four brownies after dinner so I don't think so." Elizabeth arched an eyebrow at her husband. "More chocolate is the last thing you need. I thought I was bad."

"Johnny had four too." Jason pointed out.

"Yeah and Emily was less than pleased. I told her that she could keep what was left." Which ended up being only one of the decadent squares.

"You added pretzels to this batch." Jason had loved it.

"Brownies are a good medium to play with. Salt also makes chocolate deeper. Pretzels are one of my favorite add-ins." She told him as she reached for two mugs. Tonight they would have herbal tea. Peppermint for him and apple cinnamon for her.

"What else do you put in?" Jason said back and watched her. This was the second night in a row they ended up in the kitchen. He hoped this became a tradition. It was a nice way to end the night.

"Cameron likes it when I add raspberries. For parties, when I used to go, I would add chili powder. Coconut is good and then of course there are nuts." Elizabeth turned on the electric kettle. "I have also been known to add candy for birthdays."

"My birthday is in September." Jason grinned.

"I'll remember that. Mine is in November." Elizabeth knew he was going to ask. "Cameron's is in May. A couple of weeks from now."

"Would he like a party?" Jason would arrange something. Ben was probably having a party in June for his birthday.

"Probably not. Too much noise." Elizabeth was hoping that would change.

"How about a trip. I can take you guys anywhere he would want to go." Jason had a destination in mind if she said yes.

"He might like that." Elizabeth knew low key was best.

"Johnny has a place in St. Croix." He knew his partner wouldn't mind them going.

"Maybe something closer to home." Elizabeth suggested. She had a feeling she was going to have to watch Jason when it came to gift giving.

"I'll look into something we can all do." Jason would do an internet search. The tablet would make a good gift to start. "Did you have fun today?"

"I did. It was nice to get out." Elizabeth missed days like this. Decidedly normal days. "This is my favorite part so far."

"Mine too." Jason admitted reaching out to cover her hand with his. She blushed and he thought it was the prettiest thing he'd ever seen. "Will you and Cameron come to mass with me tomorrow?"

"We go to the early mass at Queen of Angels, there are less people in case Cameron gets fussy, but he's usually pretty good. I think he likes the music." Elizabeth explained.

"I can go to that one." Jason had no problem with that. He normally went to the ten o'clock mass, which was pretty crowded. "My parents may be there."

"That's fine, we can start getting Cameron used to seeing them. Looking at them and waving from across the room is a safe way to introduce them. He adapts pretty quickly once he feels safe. Before Portland we spent a stretch in Utah and Cameron had been adjusting wonderfully until we had to leave." She explained.

"You won't have to leave here." Jason promised.

"I know." Elizabeth squeezed his hand. She knew it was a promise Jason was going to keep.

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