A Memorable Place
Australian trains, large and small
By Tom Potts
SPECIAL TO THE SUN
On a visit to Australia, we experienced the vastness of the country while crossing it by rail. The Trans Australian train pulled out of the Adelaide station promptly at 7:30 p.m. Carrying 160 passengers in its 22 cars, it would cross the barren Nullarbor Plain on its way to Perth and the Indian Ocean.
With as much as 12 hours to ride between stops, we relaxed in our private room, which had a shower and a seat by day or two berths by night. For miles, we watched the red-brown earth dotted with small scrub bushes. At night, we gazed out the window at the barren landscape bathed in the light of a full moon.
When the train stopped to refuel in the tiny town of Cook, my wife and I got off and walked along the side of the tracks, checking out the cars from ground level. An Australian who was also stretching his legs overheard us discussing the train and our journey. He, too, was interested in trains and asked if we traveled by rail back in the States. He wanted to know about American railroads and about Amtrak.
During our conversation, I remarked that my son-in-law built model railroads and had replicas of famous trains in his basement layout. I wondered if a model car from the Trans Australian might be a welcome addition to his collection.
That night, the stranger found us in the lounge car and asked how long we would be in Perth. He gave us the name and address of a hobby shop in the city and said, "I think they should have what you are looking for." That was the last we ever saw of him.
On our second day in Perth, a city of a million people, we strolled around the beautiful downtown and then remembered the stranger on the train. I pulled the crumpled piece of paper with an address from my pocket and realized we were only a few blocks from the hobby shop.
The shop proprietor was friendly, and after we told him what we were looking for, he said: "Oh yes, I've been expecting you. A man came in here yesterday and looked at my stock of model railroad cars. He picked out one and asked me to put it aside, indicating that you would be by in a day or two."
The store owner added: "I didn't know him. He wasn't from around here, but he wanted to be sure you got the right model car when you came in."
The model was an exact replica of Coach No. 3, our home on the plains of Australia.
Tom Potts grew up in Baltimore and now lives in Houston.
My Best Shot
Bob Lennon, New Freedom, Pa.
New Mexico morning
I shot this image at Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. It is a study of morning light on the adobe of San Francisco de Asis Church. The church is well known, being the subject of works by Ansel Adams and Georgia O'Keeffe. I was in New Mexico with my wife, Dianna, a European art importer who conducts business with gallery owners in Taos. Before and after skiing each day, I would scout for good light and interesting subjects for photography.
Readers Recommend
Savannah, Ga.
Rita A. Stemler, Towson
My trip to Savannah in March was unforgettable because I had the good fortune to visit at the height of flowering season. Each park had flowers and azaleas of every possible color, and the streets and squares were framed by flowering trees of pink and white as well as huge live oaks draped with Spanish moss. One of the best views was Forsyth Park, with its giant oaks, colorful tulips and azaleas, and a wonderful fountain.
Venice, Italy
Margaret Milleker, Baltimore
On a recent trip to Venice, we were impressed with the Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica). Built on a Greek-cross-shaped plan and crowned with five huge domes, it was inspired by the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. The fairy-tale cupolas and marble lacework add another dimension to this awesome basilica that once housed the remains of St. Mark.
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