To the Editor:

Readers might appreciate the following little “dream-fantasy.” Even though it might sound unrealistic at present, possibly it could get some people thinking about the future:

Yesterday I decided that I would take a trip from my home in Potsdam to do some needed shopping at the large mall located in Watertown. Today I did it -- and enjoyed doing so in the process. Here’s how:

I drove my car to the new passenger-train station located between Potsdam and Canton, and got aboard an early-morning train connecting Potsdam (and other North Country communities) to Watertown.

During the journey, I read for a bit, had a snack in the food-service car, relaxed (even snoozed briefly) and simply enjoyed the scenery. One thing for certain: I didn’t have to worry about weather and road conditions; somebody else was doing the driving!

When my train arrived in Watertown I hopped in a taxi (one of the many that have come into service since the frequent passenger service was inaugurated and the new rail stations were built), got to the mall, did my shopping and then got back to Potsdam, comparatively rested and in time for dinner -- using the mid-afternoon train for the return journey.

Well, as pleasant and convenient as that little scenario might sound, the likelihood of it becoming a reality in the near future is, as I said earlier, somewhat remote -- but not impossible. Most certainly, it’s food for thought. Here are a few reasons why:

Regular, moderately-rapid passenger-train service throughout the North Country would make it possible for friends, business-people, students, school-groups, military-personnel, shoppers and others to get from place to place via a convenient and pleasant means of transport.

It would, thereby, open up the North Country, making it an even more attractive place to live, work … and stay.

The fact that the trains would also go eastward to Plattsburg (where there’s already connecting passenger-train service to Montreal and New York City), opens the possibility of travel to those cities and other locations, far-beyond. (The presence of a Watertown-Plattsburg route might even spur inauguration of passenger service from Watertown to Syracuse.)

In addition to the convenience-factor of North Country passenger-train service, there would be many other side-benefits, such as: less use of petroleum products and, thereby, decreased pollution of the atmosphere; construction and maintenance of the line would have a positive effect on employment; its inception would be a boon to all manner of large and small business enterprises (restaurants and diners, taxi businesses, news vendors, etc.) that would come into being.

Granted: The United States is a geographically large nation with many remote areas that make it difficult (if not impossible) to have convenient rail transport to all locations. Therefore, the use of automobiles would remain more than a simple convenience, and continue to be an absolute necessity in those remote areas.

But for here in the North Country -- with our long, hard and cold winters – putting a good means of reliable, medium-distance passenger-train service into place would be more than just a dream-come-true; it would be a very real economic and cultural “plus,” making our part of the world much more accessible to people outside the area.

O.K.! I can already hear it being said: “Fine and dandy. So who’s going to pay for it?” Well, didn’t I say this was a “dream-fantasy?”

But who knows? Possibly that little shopping-trip scenario just might be enough of a stimulus for people having the necessary business and social acumen (those individuals capable of seeing the economic and other benefits of regular rail service) to step up to the plate and make their voices heard.

In so doing they could possibly enable us good folks here in North Country to turn that dream into a reality. (Might some sort of group-effort fan the flames?)

One other little thing: Some of us have a love-affair with the automobile -- and I must admit to being one of those “lovers.”

But having spent several years of my life in Europe, I learned that Europeans, too, have similar “love-affairs,” especially the English, Germans and Italians.

From what I saw (and availed myself of) their extensive passenger-rail system hasn’t hurt the auto, oil or any other industry to any great extent.

So relax fellow car-lovers: Passenger-train service wouldn’t cause you and your “sweethearts” to separate or divorce!

As the title of a fairly old song says, “Nothing’s Impossible.” If that’s true, some day North Country people could hear the Trainman or Conductor shout: “Next stop, Ogdensburg (or Canton-Potsdam, Massena, Malone, Plattsburg, etc.): Awwwl aboard!”

Al Vervaet

Hannawa Falls