North Central Rail Trip
Dateline: New Freedom, Pennsylvania, Monday, October 21--A woman who tends bar at LaMotte's, a historical fixture on the wrong side of the train tracks here for the last century, reported hearing the sounds of the long-defunct Northern Central Railroad yesterday, and locals wondered if the ghost train was making its annual appearance. The bartender had served local brews and crab french fries to a strange gang of bikers yesterday afternoon. Amidst cloudy but clearing skies in this rural town 30 miles south of York, Dee LaMotte, 43, watched them enter town on bikes with rugged tires, as they approached the bar wielding cameras, helmets and apparently, a near-unquenchable thirst.

"They put their helmets on the bar and asked for Pennsylvania beer," LaMotte reported. "They talked about the long uphill miles they'd logged along the Northern Central Rail Trail and later, the York Heritage Trail, and complained that with the trains no longer running outside the bar, they couldn't get their pennies flattened. For some reason they thought we could provide that service here. I guess that 41-mile ride just got to 'em--or maybe it was the poisonous snakes they encountered along the river--anyway, they were just ready for entertainment. Well, I told 'em we charged extra for entertainment, but the Race was on TV and I could get them some Rolling Rocks and Yuenglings. And I recommended our house special, the Crab Fries. Thick, greasy French fries in a batter seasoned with Old Bay, topped with savory lump crab and melted Cheez Whiz. I don't think the women much liked 'em. But the men were fightin' over those Crab Fries."

LaMotte said the visitors were interested in the local political scene in New Freedom. Coincidentally, the mayor of New Freedom was at the other end of the bar, watching the Race and drinking Miller, and she pointed him out. He seemed pleased to be recognized. She also overheard the visitors claim to have visited a haunted house and to have visited with some Highland Cattle enroute. "There were eight of them--I think their names rhymed--something like Jim, Tim, Kim--and maybe Rod, Vicki, John, Elvis and Jann. They were real friendly, actually, and I was kinda sorry to see 'em go. But they said they'd be back next year, and it was time to mosy on down the rail trail back home."

"I coulda sworn I heard the old train whistle after they left. And that train hasn't run in these parts since Agnes hit in '72."

--Jann
Babes on Bikes
onyourleft@comcast.net