Northminster Express

Our first Northminster Express outing was so much fun, the flock insisted on a second annual excursion. And what's a shepherd to do but to listen to the cries of the sheep? What a terrible spiritual burden, planning another church train trip for the congregation I'm proud to serve! After a glide through south Georgia in the fall of 2021, I thought an October ride through middle Georgia on the venerable SAM Shortline would be the perfect follow up run. SAM and its stewards did not disappoint. We loaded a motorcoach in Macon early on a Saturday morning and made our way south to Veterans State Park, just west of Cordele. There we were assigned the Archery as a coach just for us Presbyterians. Two HOG movers made quick work of our trip to Americus for an early lunch layover, then on to Plains to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Carter in their peanut capital of the planet. Turns out we planned our church train trip on the day of Jimmy's birthday, so that was a nice treat. Many enjoyed some peanut butter ice cream in his honor — even if he is a Baptist. The Archery offered a pleasant ride for all aboard, and not a few Presbyterians enjoyed a little clickety-clack induced catnap on the return run back to and across Lake Blackshear. The SAM rolling stock looks great in the new blue striping and expanded S. A. M. lettering ... and my fun Presbyterians looked pretty great, too, enjoying one another and making good time through all the cotton fields and villages sprinkled along the old Seaboard Air Line to Montgomery. Another Northminster Express in the books. I'm already ready for year number three.