The Little Train that Could

Photographer:  unknown

Probably only a real engineer can appreciate the enormity of designing and probably hand-building of all the parts.  Containing the steam pressure must mean high precision and high quality since otherwise I guess it explodes with great spectacle.  It looks like he has it rigged to sound the steam horn and it has more than one pipe so it may even manage a triad (i.e. chord).


With this little train could do is the question since we see it doing something now when there are heat waves and light smoke coming from the chimney so the train is off on a mission and what could it possibly be.

Zen Yogi:  if it's bringing fried chicken then I'm interested as otherwise I will be reading this copy of "Sports Illustrated."

Why, Yogi?

Zen Yogi:  I heard they have a special on spandex ski outfits for men so I can be ultra-fashionable skiing Mount Jellystone

Don't, Yogi; just don't.

Zen Yogi:  I love to ski!

When did you ever try?

Zen Yogi:  well, I just know inside I would love to ski

It's your choice to live your life as you will but do try to live as much of it without benefit of traction as you can.

Zen Yogi:  is it really that dangerous?

Nah, I only managed to break a thumb and I have otherwise shown great talent for breaking my bones.


I'm not hearing from you any clever ideas on whatever this little train could be doing, Yogi.

Zen Yogi:  how should I know what it's doing since my only experience with trains is when I hear those late-night trains coming into Fort Worth

How come Jellystone Park lets you stay here?

Zen Yogi:  I'm on bear sabbatical, mate

You mean you got past Ranger Rich and escaped?

Zen Yogi:  ain't it a beautiful thing


Well, the Rockhouse Zen of it is going with the beauty of the train and the intricacy of the engineering are reasons enough for it to exist made even better by the fact it does do something.

Zen Yogi:  and we just don't know what it is

Maybe it's better that way, Yogi, since it's more interesting to wonder.

Zen Yogi:  ask a kid and I bet you will hear some things it could be doing.

There are no kids at the Rockhouse, Yogi, but try that with some kid you see somewhere and let's hear a report.