Trains News Wire
Romance aboard Amtrak’s Capitol Limited
By Bob Lettenberger, Trains Associate Editor | August 23, 2022
Will you marry me and ride trains forever?
Romance aboard Amtrak’s Capitol Limited: A bit of background is in order to set the stage for this romance aboard Amtrak’s Capitol Limited. For 27 years, my wife, Julie, worked as a children’s librarian. I met her in the library. Yes, you could say I went there to check her out. That was early in 1992. By the time Christmas 1993 drew close, both our families were expecting an engagement announcement. On Christmas Eve, Julie’s sisters and nieces demonstrated a certain amount of disappointment that no ring had yet been placed on her finger. One niece — 7- maybe 8-years-old at the time — queried Aunt Julie, asking, “Aren’t you going to marry Bob?”
“Well, he hasn’t asked me yet,” was Julie’s response.
SNIP
My folks lived in Brunswick, Md., which was on old Baltimore & Ohio Railroad division point. By the early 1990s, CSX has begun to downsize its Brunswick operation. There was still plenty of activity, just not the way long-time residents will remember it. The closest Amtrak station was all of 10 miles up the Potomac River in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. Dad would be dispatched to retrieve us from the train. Mom would be flying around the kitchen preparing lunch.
Riding in style
Back to the train ride. It was my intention all along to propose marriage aboard the Capitol Limited somewhere along the way. The romantic in me said wait until just before midnight and do it in dome. This seemed like a pretty solid plan. Julie also likes trains. The dome, under the stars, this could (should) work.
