The #7 Empire Builder Train Trip

Alton was ecstatic to be at the train station in Everett waiting for the #7 to come around the bend. He greeted everyone in the lobby, checked in with the conductor and scanned his e-ticket for a hard copy, which he clutched with intent responsibility. He loved being on the platform and hearing the "all aboard" cry from the conductor. We toured the dining car and sat in 12 different chairs in 3 different cars during our one-hour trip to the Seattle station, making sure we took it all in. He made friends with over 20 people asking them some version of, "How you doing? What you doing? I sit with you? I have cracker? You want cookie? How it work? You see water? I ride train! You ride train? Where conductor go? You see tunnel? Where are we?" As we disembarked and checked things out on the platform the conductor gave him a special card/ticket with his name stamped in it that he proceeded to toss repeatedly in the air in mock panic like the children in his favorite movie, "Polar Express."