For 8-year-old Caleb, the sound of a train whistle is more than just noise – it’s the soundtrack of his dreams.
A resident of the Chicago’s South Side, Caleb has developed a deep love for the Metra trains that crisscross Chicagoland – and Metra workers along the Metra Electric Line have taken notice and love him back. Every morning, he hops on the train with his mom, each time his eyes wide with excitement as they embark on their way to school or towards new adventures.
“I have loved trains since I was one year old. I like trains because they're super cool,” said Caleb “Not only that, but also, they get you to ride to different places. Trains are fast. Sometimes trains go faster than you think.”
Caleb’s mom, J. Myart, noticed his love for trains before he could even walk.
“When he started using his walker, I would put on 'Thomas the Tank Engine' on TV and I noticed he liked it. Someone said, ‘Teach him about trains,’ and that's what I did. I started letting Caleb ride the train when he was still in the kangaroo pouch, and he's been riding ever since.”
Together Caleb and his mom visit train stations, watch trains arrive and depart and talk about the various roles that keep the trains running smoothly. “I turned down the opportunity for him to ride the school bus so he can take the train,” said Myart.
His enthusiasm is evident during outings to different stations and his ambition and love for Metra has not gone unnoticed by his family, friends, or crew members.
“Caleb has been riding on the Metra Electric from South Shore to Hyde Park and sometimes downtown since he was little, about two years old,” said conductor Christine Razo. “He’s gone to University Park, Homewood and Kensington. He loves the train! He loves for the engineers to honk at him when they go by. He does the little honk sign, and he knows all our names. He's very respectful. He does his homework on the train; he reads on the train and he's a good boy. He wears his trainman hat every chance he gets. We love Caleb on the train."
As Caleb looks ahead to his future, his excitement remains infectious, but for now, Caleb continues to ride the Metra with his mom, soaking up every moment of the journey.
