Lying awake in bed on hot, sultry summer nights
Young boy listens to moving trains, far out of sight
Dreaming of riding passenger trains, brings thrills
Reliable North Coast Limited quickly travels at will
Riding the Northern Pacific Railway’s pride and joy
Father takes son on his first-ever train trip—oh boy!
Sitting together in the comfy coach car, so much fun
Experiencing all that connects a father with his son
Shuffling down the aisle, steward offers snack foods
Restaurant in Glendive soon satisfies hungry moods
Making its journey to Montana’s “Gateway City” today
Hustling train passes many small towns along the way
Flashing quickly by—Custer, Hathaway, and Terry
Steady North Coast Limited acts as trusted ferry
Feeling safe with train’s constant rocking motion
Son’s eyes soon close, sleeping to its locomotion
Waking up, train slowing for a scheduled stop
Town of Forsyth, pausing for quick eavesdrop
Picking up steam, locomotive continues on its way to the East
Yellowstone River runs alongside, train powers up like a beast
Finishing this exciting journey and reaching their destination
Glendive will serve as today’s ending Montana train station
Accompanying his father as he takes care of his affairs
Enjoying dinner and staying overnight without any cares
Returning back home to Billings the very next morn
Son believing train travel should be his new norm
Sitting in cozy dining car, both treated quite well
Elegantly set table makes pancakes taste swell
Moving up to the observation car, enjoying beautiful views
Autumn’s harvested farm fields, lining up straight and true
Hurtling by more towns—Rosebud and Fallon go past
It’s much too bad this captivating journey cannot last
Remembering again those images and sounds of the train
Memories of the North Coast Limited shall always remain
I actually made this trip with my father back in the late 1960s. Read more about the Northern Pacific Railway’s amazing passenger service from North Coast Limited.
