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The
Orange County Register
Story appeared in
Fullerton section
on
page D
ID: 63995413
Illustration:
Edition: 1
Correction: | Railway
is the best way for traveling freedom // Placentian logs travels on the
train web at Fullerton station
September
25, 2003
Byline:BLYTHE BERNHARD
Carl
Morrison used to run alongside the steam trains that rolled behind his
family's Hayden, Ind., farm and wave to the conductor.
When he was 10, Morrison took his first train trip to see the
Christmas lights in Indianapolis with his mother. That ride on the rails
launched dozens more as Morrison fell in love with the freedom and comfort
of train travel.
Morrison, 62, logs his travels for the Web site www.
trainweb.com , based in upstairs offices at the Fullerton Train
Station. He has journeyed 4,071 miles by train since April, including a
cross-country voyage.
``Getting there is more than half the fun,'' the Placentia res
ident said. ``There are no seatbelts. You can have dinner in a diner by a
chef. There's no luggage check.''
Morrison teaches business at Cypress High School but moonlights as
a writer on the tracks. He will roll through Mexico's remote Copper Canyon
on a trainthis month.
Ray Burns, president of trainweb.com, said Morrison's
articles help boost sales for the railroad by inspiring thousands of
readers.
The Web site gets 2.5 million page views per month and includes
information on rail travel, model railroading, railroad history and links
to additional sites and chat rooms.
Train fans can also view live images of train stations and tracks
across the country via a Web cam posted in Fullerton and at other depots.
Burns and partner Steve Grande launched the site in 1996 and moved
into the Fullerton depot the next year.
Like Morrison, Burns believes the railway is the best way to
travel.
``It forces you to relax. You have time to sit down and work things
out,'' Burns said.
Morrison's articles on the site include a seven-part story on the
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus train that stopped in Orange
County last month. His most recent travelogue chronicles his trip from Los
Angeles to Charlottesville, Va., in June.
Morrison passed his love of trains to his wife, Sue, and grown
children, Matthew and Carla. The family spent four spring breaks in a row
taking the train to Seattle when the kids were in school.
Now the family takes the train to their timeshare in Carlsbad for
vacations.
For those who have never traveled by rail, Morrison promises a
short jaunt will make a train fan out of anyone.
``Take a trip. Go to San Diego and back, go to San Luis Obispo,''
Morrison said.
``I guarantee you'll like the freedom and the scenery. It's an
enjoyable way to go.''
trainweb.com.
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