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I helped a young military wife with her nine-month old baby. She had lots of luggage. When we got to Paris I settled her and the baby into an upstairs restaurant and went to find the luggage department to get our luggage which had been sent on ahead. I had taken two yrs of French but standing there in Paris in the train station all I could remember was how to sing "Sweet Adeline" and recite "The Three Bears" in the French language. I approached a soldier wearing a U.S. uniform and asked in English where the luggage was but he spoke only French. I found out later that the French soldiers had been given our old ones after World War Two. This was only a few yrs after the war and there was still damage to some of the buildings. When I finally joined the young woman in the resaurant I could only remember how to order peas and fruitcake and hot chocolate.
We somehow found our train to Germany and were joined in the compartment (third class) by a woman in her forties whose son was stationed in Germany. When we arrived at the French/German border late at night the young woman and the forty-yr old got off the train to see if they could buy us a cold drink or some potable water. That left me with the baby. Two young American soldiers got on the train and came to share our compartment. When the train was slowly pulling out and the 2 women had not returned one of the soldiers teased me about being stuck with the baby and trying to explain to my husband where he came from. Finally the women made it to the train before it picked up speed. The forty-yr old had her blouse almost torn off of her. They said that the border guards had tried to assault them. They did not find anything to drink.
There were French soldiers lying in the corridors sleeping and I had to step on them to get to the WC. I was wearing a pair of black suede highheels so I know I hurt the men but I had to use the WC and they would not move. The next day when I saw Bad Kreuznach where my husband was stationed I prepared to get off but the young woman begged me to go on to Wiesbaden with her to her father's house. I refused and a Polish man helped me off the train with my suitcase. The same stairs and tunnel are still there in the station. There was a turnstile then as you enter or exit the station. I did not know where to go to find my husband so when I saw 2 American soldiers coming through the turnstile I asked the first one where the American Hospital was. My husband was stationed there with the 31st M.A.S.H.
The soldier pointed to the sargent behind him and told me to ask him. It was then that I noticed the first soldier was in handcuffs. He was being taken to jail. The sargent told me to take a taxi to the hospital and ask for my husband. It was about six o'clock in the morning.

What a great story, I hope that was just the first installment, it ended much to soon. I know you're very busy writing your novel, but maybe every so often another installment?? "o) You just might be starting another novel, :o) or is this going to be part of the one you are working on now?

You certainly have had an interesting life, and the time that you're telling about in your story was a very special time in history, not always good, but so much happened and you were there for for it.

Following is a picture of some outfits my mother got for my sister and I, probably around 1944. I'm the littlest one.

Oh my goodness! My 2 little brothers had soldier suits. I remember that when they were playing outside they found a ten-dollar bill and Mom said they could buy anything they wanted with it. They picked out the soldier suits. I'm sure there is a photo somewhere. I'll post it if I find it. Yes, I'll be writing more and No, it's not part of my novel altho Bad kreuznach is part of it. because I know it so well. I am hoping my story will get others started telling us about their lives. it doesn't have to be all about trains. We need to know each other as friends would. I have always been interested in the lives of others. I like to see photos of their families too.

Good idea platform5, anyone wanting to post photo's with their stories, please put them in this post so they will all be in one place for us to enjoy.

Come on members- Tell us about any trip or day trip you were on at any stage of your life. I hesitate to continue posting more of mine until we get to hear about some of yours.It does not have to be a train trip. We want to know about you.

Oh No! I just wrote a long second installment and it disappeared!

Dear platform5 - I shouldn't be too coy about posting your stories - after all - you are the record holder for train journeys! I look forward to hearing more of your exploits and would encourage you to post more - but keep saving them as you write each paragraph so you won't lose them.

When I do a lengthy piece, I write it in a word document and copy and paste on site.

ScotBrit- thanks for the reply. Most of what I will be posting will be about trains and trips I have taken other than the ones during my Guinness Record ones. Of those trips I can write about things that I didn't put in my book about my adventures to beat the record. I may contact the publisher and ask permission although it should be okay if I use different wording. Actually, I may have done more mileage by rail in the days before I thought about beating the record. Too bad I didn't get conductors to sign for me then. It would have been much easier to win the record.

Here's hoping that more members of our group will add their stories of trips by rail, flight or sail. Or, holiday get-togethers. We need to keep the group going.

I should have written it in a file on my computer first. Thanks for the reminder.

Roseo- I will post more but I wish others would join in. You asked if other trips would be part of the novel I am writing. Not exactly. As all authors do in novels, I will sneak in a few characteristics and incidents that are connected to my own life, but most of it is pure fiction. There will be nothing in the novel that would prevent me from more "installments." There will be some limits though because of the book about my Guinness journeys which has been published.

I'm anxiously awaiting that second installment. To bad you lost it. Try doing it in Wordpad or Word, after losing several long emails that is what I do. I agree with Scotbrit, we want more. You are the STAR of this group. :o) I know you are busy with your novel, and will wait somewhat patiently. "o)