During Nebraska’s inception, the railroad connected both coasts by following the Platte River. Small railway companies developed and soon, you could get nearly anywhere you wanted to go by train. Now, UP headquarters are located in downtown Omaha. Amtrak stops in five Nebraska cities as it connects Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. And a handful of small local railroads haul grain. The Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad has cornered Nebraska’s rail tourism market.
What is it about Nebraska and trains? Willa Cather came to Nebraska on a dusty rail car and she talks about it in My Antonia. I share my insights into train travel and the slow pace of life in this week’s Nebraska-isms column.
Great! I posted all the 2010 Nebraska-isms. And, I finished this little project four days ahead of schedule! Now, I’ll be able to add the new column on a weekly basis.
Not sure what a Nebraska-ism is? It’s a unique look at the Cornhusker state and what sets the landscape and people apart. Column topics include:
- The Lure of Friday Night Lights – High School Football
- Autumn in Nebraska
- Husker Football Fans
- The Kitchen-Family Connection
- Farm Safety
- Clotheslines
- Nebraska Literary Scene
- Popcorn
- FFA Emblem: Drawn in Nebraska
- WWI, Draft Cards, and Grandpa
- Hunting Widows
- Drama of One-Act
- Fruitcake
- Poinsettias
- Christmas Traditions
- Ice Fishing
- Symbolism of a State’s Culture
- I’m a 30.
- The Late Night TV Dilemma: What Would Johnny Think?
- Press Trips – Marketing Nebraska
- Unique Libraries
- Valentine’s Traditions from Nebraska
- Going for Olympic Gold: Nebraska Olympians
- Sandhill Cranes
- Happy Birthday, Nebraska!
- 4N6: What I Learned Competing in High School Speech and Coaching HS Forensics
- Nebraska’s Irish Roots
- Nebraska Tall Tales & Legends
- Husker Women’s Basketball
Interested in reading one of these weekly columns? All columns are included as PDF files on the Nebraska-isms page .
