Stop #9: The Zany Zen Railway System at Somdari

 

This one is a bit longer because there's soooo much to it!  This time we travel to the northern part of the mainland continent of Jeogeot, where Zen Swords-Galway has created her multiregion narrow-gauge railway system, The Zany Zen Railway!

This train system has been around for a while, so if you want to catch a piece of Second Life history, it's definitely worth the trip!

You land at Somdari station, where the Passport stamp terminal is right outside.  The railway as it currently stands has a train devoted to transporting goods (NOT a passenger train, and don't bother trying to board it, you'll get bumped off) and a single car passenger train.

There's also a rail house with what I assume are decommissioned or just not currently running train engines for the railroad.

Inside the waiting house, you'll find a really well appointed ticketing booth, and Beardy Bernard, whose job it is evidently to let you know that the trains are running on time or not.  There is also a real-time interactive map which lets you know where both the goods train (G) and the passenger train (P) are at any particular moment on the tracks.

Here's a peek at the goods train, which, as I mentioned does not allow for passengers, but does seem to be a means for freighting Pouloco Gasoline, logs for lumber, and various shipping boxes in the caboose.

The engineer seems amiable enough, though he never said a word but kept to his work.

Outside on the platform, they also provide great detail with signs which alert you which train is arriving into the station next.

The accommodations on the passenger train are sparse, but comfortable enough for the short trip to the Jeogeot coast, with multiple seating options for a single male or female or even couples poses.

The train heads north, passing by Ahndang station in express fashion (you get to stop there in the southbound trek) heading for the station at Seogyeo, where you are greeted by a friendly conductor, who welcomes you and points out the various points of interest.

One of the really cool aspects of Seogyeo station is the installation of a museum where you can learn all about the history of the ZZR, which dates back to 2013.  You also learn the origins of some of the engines built that are featured in the railhouse at Somdari station.

Another really great place to stop while at Seogyeo is their gift shop, where you can pick up tons of ZZR-specific merchandise like shirts, posters, vintage coal from the ZZR, and some of my personal faves, a ZZR driver and conductors cap.

I'm showing off the drivers hat here.  Top notch stuff.

Seogyeo also has built a tight knit rural farming community around the station itself, and if on your journey you'd like to take a break and stop into spots like Sandra's Cafe, have a seat and watch the trains go by, never fear, the trains keep a pretty tight schedule of about 20 minutes before the next one comes along.

The last stop on the short 4 region trip is the sleepy coastal town of Little Coverston.  Once again, well appointed and detailed, complete with a spillway which runs under the depot itself, as well as the town proper, before emptying into the coastal waters off Jeogeot.

While in little Coverston, don't forget to take a moment to take in the sights of this delightful town, including stopping into The Welsh Dragon for a brew and a bag of crisps.

What is it with the local bartenders on these trips of mine that always leave me wondering if I forgot to put on deodorant?!?!?

Of course, if you're going to take a train to the coast, you have to spend a little time on the beach taking in that fresh sea air!

Honestly, if all you're doing in your stamp collecting is collecting the stamp, you're missing a a lot of the history and talent these creators have put into their creations.  Take a little time and dive into the spots themselves.  It's well worth it!

And what better place to show of my brand new Jeogeot Train Poster from the Seogyeo Station gift shop than the upper living room of my tree house at The Redwood Grove, right above the model train!