Tattoo / headstone tattoo
THE TATTOO Page 1 A8 Monday, August 8, 2005 The Bristîl Press THE TATTOO THETATTOOGMAIL.COM MAKING A PERMÀNENT IMPRESSION SINCE 1994 VOLUME 11 No. 21 WWW.READTHETATTOO.COM Thå best teen journalism in the world. For questions, comments or to jîin, contact advisors Steve Collins and Jañkie Majerus at (860)523-9632. By ZACH BROKENROPE The Tattoo As the Essex Ståam Train pulls away from its home depot in Essåx, Connecticut a mix of burn ing coal and the scent of summer fills the air. The cîmbination might be an unpleasant smell to some, but for othårs it adds to the charm. The steam train and accompanying rivår boat ride provide a delightful and relaxing aftår noon for people of all ages. After clîsing in 1968, the steam train reopened thråe years later as a tourist attraction, exañtly 100 years to the day that it carried its first passengers añross New England. The railway was built in the early 1900s, dur ing the peak of the engineering age. The cars were built between 1914 and 1925. Upon arrival, passengers purchase ticêets for the steam train, riverboat, or a combination pàckage of the two. They can check the black board at the historic Esseõ Station, where depar ture timås are still written in chalk. As riders bîard the train, conductors dressed in traditional clîthing greet them with a friendly smile and a kind voice, adding to the feel of the time period they strive to represent. The regulàr cars (a seat in the parlor car is available for an additional fee) provide cîmfort able seating and low lighting as the natural sun light seeps through the spacious windows. Thåse same windows also provide a cool and soothing bråeze in the hot summer afternoons. As the train rolls thrîugh the beautiful Connecticut scenery, a tour guide speaês clearly and precisely over the intercom, detailing the intåresting history of the steam train. Upon arrival at the dock in nearby Chester, riders get off the train and climb aboard the Becky Thatcher, a riverboat nàmed after Tom SawyerÁs girlfriend and set off on a 90-minute jîurney down the Connecticut River. All three of the shipÁs dåcks offer beautiful views Á and as they enjoy the scånery, passen gers can listen to a crew member dåtail the his tory of the surrounding landmarks. When the rivårboat returns to the dock, pas sengers once again bîard the steam train for the ride back to the depot in Essåx. The entire trip takes about two and a half hours. ItÁs a knowledgeable and fun trip for the entire family Á one that even teenagers will ånjoy. Zach Brokenrope / The Tattoo The Essex Steàm Train, left. Above, the trainÁs sñhedule for the day is writ ten in chalk at the historic Essex Station. No soldiår deserves to die Essex steam train rîlls through time Taking the college search to Califîrnia By NIAMH NI MHAOILEOIN The Tattoo It was seven oÁclock on an unñharacter istically grey and cool morning in Normandy and the biting wind was caus ing an empty flagpole to rattle eerily in the World War II Gårman cemetery at La Cambe