Hey Jeffrey here and welcome back tonight falls tonight let yourself relax al...
snuggle in all cozy and warm and enjoy this story of unexpected magic and mystical charm
“and if nightfall helps you sleep please do share tonight's story with friends and family”
it makes a huge difference to the show and hopefully we can help them to sleep better too
I've been very lucky to take some amazing train journeys hanging out of windows in South Asia
to try a home snaking through East Asia being shouted out to get on the train in certain places crossing borders in Europe my favorite journey was much closer to home though an old steam train meandering it's way through the snowy Scottish mountains and Santa on board armed with presence magical tonight we're about to join a man called James on a cold and frosty evening
“when he misses his connection home he stumbles upon a grand old steam train”
waiting to whisk him away but once aboard with its unexpected wonders and captivating atmosphere
he soon realizes this is no ordinary journey before we begin here's the quick ad break that keeps this free content possible to go at free subscribe via the link in the show notes alright now back to nine falls mysterious land where familiar stories take unexpected turns search for beyond the bookcase
“from PJ library wherever you get your podcasts”
and you are was cutting it too fine with the last train home but it was unavoidable
London was busy as usual a mass of bright lights and racing traffic leaving me to practically run through the streets so I wouldn't be late I walked up the escalator at the station when I got to my platform I just knew I'd missed it by seconds I could just about here the train departing in the distance and so I potted through the gate wondering what I was gonna do the platform was empty and the board stated that no more trains would be departing that evening
and so I considered my options it was that quiet time at night when the world seemed to come to arrest a man was locking up walking along the platform slowly brushing away and the station was calm it was strangely restful and I felt very relaxed like a comforting haze it been cast over me settling me and making my eyelids heavy
then no one was there demand sweeping the platform had left and I looked around the platform seemed to have changed in an instant without me even noticing the brightly colored plastic benches had gone and there were wooden benches with intricately carved backrests and posters that looked incredibly old and faded this should have been shocking and I could not explain it but I was not at all scared
I loved history and seeing the modern display paired back so the old station could peek through was exciting I walked up and down marveling at the smell which was something I was not overly familiar with cool rich and suity I was thrilled if I like something was going to happen and all
Thoughts of getting home late were soon forgotten and noise something was app...
and it was an unfamiliar sound that I couldn't quite place
“then the air became deliciously warm around me like a welcome hug and very slowly a steam train pulled”
up now the noise made sense as the train made that characteristic chaff chaff sound that was recognizable up close there was the loud hiss of steam as it pulled in very slowly and we've closer to see better it was a remarkable thing with long green carriages decorated with streaks of maroon there were large windows and it could make out old fashioned lamps inside which emitted a lovely glow onto each table the door open the conductor
stepped off he looked very smart in a sleek navy coat with maroon trim on the sleeves that matched
“the train his cheeks were ruddy and he pushed his hands together and gave me a little bow”
I didn't know what to say to him we'll see expecting to see me he carved a good evening sure he said hello I replied feeling a little awkward at the encounter it's marvellous to see you here tonight he said like he knew me well do you happen to have your ticket to hand he asked I didn't but somehow I knew one was near he was reaching out I looked down and a thick piece of paper sat in my hand it simply said ticket on it there was no information about a destination
but that was more exciting in some ways there was a logo and when I peered closer
“I could see it was the sketch of a small mountain the conductor reached out and checked it”
then handed it back to me all seemed well and he gestured for me to climb on with a small nod of the head I walked onto the train and heard him board after me then there were two short blasts as the train began to move I should have been more concerned but that relaxed feeling was still sitting in my whole body it seemed like everything was
meant to be happening for a reason you see I'd always wanted to go in a steam train
and I know it would happen one day this just wasn't quite how I'd expected my journey to go it was packed so many people on the train some sat quietly while others chatted and laughed the trains interior was full of polished wood and it was just as cozy inside as it had looked from the platform I felt a little nervous but the train was making good headway looking out of the window it was clear that something magical was happening
we'd only sat out a second ago but the scenery was unlike anything I knew in London
there was a shimmering light from the full moon and it showed the outline of vast snow camped mountains way above us as the train chugged along through a deep ravine it was like we were in the Alps though I had no idea how we'd reach somewhere like that so fast I turned my attention to the passengers it was a strange thing like a fancy dress party with many people in all different kinds of attire
there was a tall man with a very long red beard wearing a snazzy dinner jacket and a silk bow tie in emerald green he said to him what looked like a martini the man stood and came up to me you're here he said like he was excited to see me
I had no idea who the man was I've never met him before but it was nice that ...
come the man said to me and he leaned in close you're new here
“yes I just got on it's this place I asked the midnight steam train he said”
is if that were obvious what's that I asked well if you're in the right place at the right time or if you're in a bit of a bind it knows he said it picks you up and takes you all around let's you enjoy a few hours in a place where nothing else matters this made very little sense but also at the same time some who made perfect sense and I wondered
how that could be I looked around again and tried to work out who's around me
I've gone back in time he laughed heartily like I said it picks up people from all over the place
“from the past from the future anyway you could do with a drink he produced another perfect”
looking martini from nowhere so now he had one in each hand he ended the fresh one to me and I took a long sip it was a ice cold and delicious now this is our job the man said gesturing to the crowd around him what you mean
our job is to ensure you have a memorable evening and we take it very seriously he said
so let me start he gestured for me to sit before him which I did feeling the plush leather seat alone me then the man produced a pencil from his sleeve and he held it lightly between two fingers looking at me intensely I wondered if he was going to hypnotize me and I felt myself becoming very relaxed each breath was like a measured wave in and out in and out the tension slowly left every part of me the man did not stop looking at me
and his eyes were bright I was ready and it was clear the show was happening for me I watched in awe as the man took the pencil and slowly held it out on his palm and then I stared as it levitated until it was nearly a foot in the air he made it spin one very slowly just by looking at it
“and learned a few magic tricks as a teenager and could vaguely remember how this one was done”
but I pushed those thoughts out of my head because I wanted to feel the wonder of the trick sometimes it's best to just savor the thrill of magic and I'll think too hard about the misdirection the man or magician as I could see he was now let the pencil fall back down slowly and there was a rumble of applause from everyone in the train carriage he took a slight bow
I looked down at his hands again and he held one small red scarf it was tiny a shred of a thing and then with a flourish he pulled hard a vivid blue scarf came out tied to the red one then he yellow scarf knotted tightly to the end then purple then green and each one flew upwards as he tossed the long rainbow scarf in front of his face and through it's in the air
many people watching stretched their hands out to catch the scarf but one hand went higher than the rest it was a woman and she grabbed it my focus turned to her as she strode out from the crowd with her hand on the scarf she wore a flapper dress adorned with sequins her high heels were bright red
She tapped them together and then smiled warmly at me you're here she said th...
something so pure about the joy in her tone even though I did not know why she was so delighted
“but she rose she put the scarf down on the table and then grabbed my hand we walked through the carriage”
following her felt very safe now and then she looked back to ensure I was still there it was like this train was operating under some magical force because we seem to walk through so many different carriages far more than unseen when we'd board it I almost ran to catch her up as she
danced tiny eye lift the train when I looked up I saw the overhead luggage racks filled with leather
suitcases in every color imaginable there were so many people and I recognized fashions from the
“70s and the 80s there seemed to be no distinction based on time period everyone was sitting playing”
cards and chatting together I walked through so many carriages but I didn't hire and I felt myself at one with the train's speed I realized that I'd expected the train to have more
stops but there were no more every time I felt it judder slightly the speed picked up again
and I walked and walked each carriage had something unique to look at I saw a fortune teller and she smiled and waved she had a deck of worn taro cards and a dusty crystal ball sat in front of her
“I was sure I saw a swirl of smoke inside the glass as I passed and I hesitated wondering if I should”
stop but I knew I should keep following the woman leading me on and on I went when I looked past all but to light some the train and I took the window the sky was a little lighter like morning would be coming soon I also felt a little sad I didn't want the day or night or whatever this was to end though I knew it would all good things come to an end I was on a journey and I felt like I was in a dream the way that reality seemed to shift constantly
from one moment to the next each time I tried to count something or work out what was going on I found myself pleasantly disoriented I followed the woman in the flapper dress until we reached what I suppose was the dining cart it was a sight to behold the tables that stretched before me recovered with white linens perfect china silver countenery and glistening glassware server seemed to float with ice buckets filled with
clinking bottles of champagne they moved smoothly from table to table topping up glasses they watched all the diners as they pressed their champagne flutes together saying cheers merley to one side there was a marble cocktail bar and many bottles of spirit and liquor sat on the back bar and then there was the food I saw towers of languistines piled up in front of a large group of giggling women and a huge wobbling trifle that a whole table seemed to be
sharing I felt my mouth began to water when I spotted a joint of roast beef and crispy potatoes it gave off the rich scent of rosemary and garlic it didn't seem like food from one time period which made it all the more exciting a couple torn to a giant pizza stacked with ham and pineapple and a group tackled the large plate of california rolls come the woman said
Led me to a table at the end of the carriage I sat opposite her not knowing w...
I felt a little shy and I led out a deep breath it was good to sit and rest and look
it's fabulous isn't it she said where exactly are we going I asked
“who to worry about that it's all about the journey she said cryptically”
right now it's time to eat this felt perfectly natural what are we having I asked
she considered it well we have anything you want so we could have your favorite food what's that
I thought my favorite food was a bit boring maybe fish and chips or pasta something hearty but it didn't feel right for this special night on the steam train she cocked her head at my indecision instead of your favorite food what about something do you really want right now something that suits exactly how you feel don't think too hard
“she said and so I sat there and relaxed I tried to think of everything becoming easier”
I felt my shoulder is loosened as the train made its way along I could hear the engine humming and the soothing rhythmic chug I didn't focus on anything I just thought of tastes side had in the past and memories of food and that those memories swirl around not selecting any particular one just seeing what crossed my mind and observing as the thoughts drifted slowly a cheese fondue I said the words rising before I could even think about it with more care
perfect doom and said I adore fondue it was hard to assess the time on the steam train
“we could only avoid it for a few minutes then a group of waiters came over with a fondue”
it was served in a heavy ceramic pot with a small burner underneath and I could see the cheese bubbling away please terrain the pot was a whole selection of things to dip there were cooked vegetables broccoli and cauliflower pear slices and cured meats it smelled mouth watering all buttery and delicious marvelous the women said let's dig in and so we did
I was absolutely ravenous and I tried all the different options it was incredible the perfect
makes of fresh vegetables and rich cheese after words we drank creamy coffees and devoured the chocolate tart with crumbling pastry and lots of cream I finished every last crumb how much it would cost and I asked the women but she just shook her head you have a tab she said don't worry about it after the waiter had cleared our plates an older man approached me he wore a thick scarf and a woolen hat he looked very comfortable on the train
and though he was old he moved quickly with a slight spring to his tab you're here he said how was used to the effusive greetings by now but it still gave me a fuzzy feeling that the man seemed quite happy to see me on the steam train it seemed like I was the star attraction I didn't need to do anything more entertained in any way but people seemed to enjoy my company which was a small but wonderful thing
ah the woman said you'll like this next one
She pointed for me to follow the man and so I did we race down through the di...
people waved and greeted us as we went so many carts passed again and it seemed impossible to
“count though I tried every time I wanted to work it out I found my thoughts become more scrambled”
until I realized that we just needed to keep going the luggage was getting bigger the suitcases looked huge and I saw that the carriage ceilings were rising high which was impossible but somehow failed right I was curious about where we could possibly be going
then I heard the jolly sound of a fiddle and there was even more intrigued
when we reached the carriage that seemed to be our end destination
“it was the size of a huge hall I walked in and hundreds of people were dancing everywhere”
a Cayley there was a whistle and I thought it was the train but no it was a flute from the band that was set up on a small stage there was the flatest and someone with the bank pipes which were loud and booming I noted the piano to one side and the man with an accordion jumped onto the stage in one smooth movement and began to join in welcome a woman said to me joyously you're here another man called out clapping his hands into light
I didn't know any Cayley dances but I could see a line of people arm and arm
“whole smiles dancing away instinctively I joined in and linked arms with a friendly looking man”
and a woman on the other side and I found it was easy to follow their stab the cratering me was a brightly colored blur of tartan and smiles each sway of the carriage made the dance more exciting and we large together laughing I was sure this was the end of my journey on this magical steam train full of color and joy and love then I spotted the magician he came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder
he whispered to me that my stop was next and that felt natural very slowly the train drew to a stop they stepped off onto the empty platform the night was cool and I enjoyed the breeze on my face it was close to home I walked down the street and felt for the ticket in my pocket it was there the thick paper of the ticket and I pulled it out and held it for a while
thinking about all the things I'd seen and the friendliness I'd experienced at every turn it couldn't wait to tell my friends about it I reached my house and I went upstairs there I pulled on my pajamas and sank into bed it was the perfect temperature the sheets warm and snug around me and the pillows plump my head rested against them my body was completely supported like a long hug
I'd known it deep down I'd always no night end up home safe and warm my eyelids so heavy
it couldn't help but close them and welcome in the sleep after a long night the night faded away and I could just about hear the gentle chuck of the steam train when I closed my eyes like my mind was slowly letting go of the memory releasing it easily and my breath became slow in and out in and out
I realized I couldn't hear anything at all I thought of the train continuing ...
without me going deeper and deeper into the snowy mountain range I thought of who it would pick up
“and then let the thoughts of bright sequins and beautiful suits passed through my mind”
my journey on the steam train was over and I knew it was a dream but I couldn't believe
just how vivid and magical the dream had been I wanted to tell my friends all about it
“but it would be hard to describe the magic to anyone else the night on a steam train seemed to”
live in a space between the real and the imaginary and there was something very special about that
a memory to treasure forever with the hope of stepping aboard again someday we'll leave our story there for tonight
“on the board the dream train now you'll take its required sleep well and see you next time”
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