train - Stories

In 1969, when I was 13, my parents and I set out on an adventure. We took the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco. My mom refused to fly and there wasn't time to drive during my winter school break. Besides which, highways could be treacherous in the winter. Nothing was going to keep us from seeing my new nephew, but the train was much more than a means of transportation.

This story is autobiographical, but some memories have faded and where necessary, I've embellished things to make the story more complete. Even so, this is an accurate portrayal of an experience that has stayed with me for more than 50 years.

University student Jason misses a train and finds catching the next train totally changes his life.

A continuing story of Struan Kenrick, as he continues his life in the Army, making the occasional trip home to visit his brothers, and taking another train trip with his youngest brother Sawney, this time on the "Ghan", heading north to Darwin, where once again trouble follows them...

In real life, Australia has two great train journeys, The Indian Pacific, West to East, from East Perth to Sydney, and The Ghan, South to North, from Adelaide to Darwin.

Now in fiction, we have The Great Western...

Hop aboard, and enjoy the ride, "all aboard, tickets please"

Having recently lost his father from a mining accident in Northern Western Australia, twelve year old Hunter Mitchell along with his much younger brother Fraser learnt from their mother, that we may be moving to her ancestral home of the Cook Islands, in the central Pacific. This meant that Hunter would be leaving his good friends, especially his best friend Jacob, who along with his father and older brother, took me on a sailing trip onboard a racing trimaran, to help me stop thinking of the loss of my father, and had an awesome time.

After many years of University and Army training, 21-year-old Struan Kenrick is given two weeks leave before being transferred to a new position in Darwin. On arrival at the airport close to the family properties, Struan learns from his oldest brother, Euan, that their youngest brother Sawney is being ostracised by their grandparents, making him isolated and depressed. Determined to improve the situation for his baby brother, Struan organised for Sawney and him to go on a short holiday, firstly on the Indian Pacific train, and then a stay on Rottnest Island, but things take a dramatic change once on the train.

This is the story of Gres Langton, a smart young man, who having just completed his University studies in Veterinary Nursing, he is informed of his single mother's death, on arrival home from a day of work at a veterinary clinic. after missing a few days of work, after the funeral, his boss, sends him off on a holiday, to help him to cope with his recently loss, and that trip changes everything for him.

It's Devin Rous' birthday weekend, and he's turning 18-years-old. With secrets coming to light on this special day of his, Devin's 18th birthday will be one of his most cherished, and the start of a living nightmare.

This is an Urban Fantasy, Portal Story, set in the Modern USA. Specifically Washington D.C.

15 year old Charlie takes a train ride that changes his life.

Join Kyle and Kodi on their summer holiday.