Not the most beautiful-looking, but beautiful sounding is Union Pacific's 4804 steam engine, which visited us last week. A big crowd went down to Union station to see it.

We didn't go, having done that already. But the second night, we got a thrill when we heard its melodious steam whistle from the freight yards as we sat reading in the evening. Although it was chilly, we opened a window to hear it again. It sounded several times, and the modern engines occasionally hooted back.

Nothing excites wanderlust like the distant music of a steam train's whistle.