Make a train station an important part of your story.

Posted in Narrative on Nov 1, 2022

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✍️ 74 stories

“Maybe It Was Fate ” by FabWritesStuff -

Submitted to Contest #168

“What am I supposed to do for the next five hours?” The agent at the ticket counter gave Callie an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, train delays are rare but they do happen. You’re welcome to take a seat somewhere until your train is ready to board.” Callie sighed in defeat and grabbed the handle of her wheeled suitcase. “Alright, thank you.” She wandered around the train station for a bit until she came upon an empty bench that was away from the crowds of rushing people. Sitting down, she leaned her head back against th...

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“A time to leave” by Lunny Muffin

Submitted to Contest #168

The clock arm was barely at the seven o’clock line when she rushed into the doors. Her eyes navigating and slicing through the crowded entrance. Travelers, family, porters and drivers flocked the doors to the old forty six station. The doors opened wide and never closed, the big square entrance was like a tunnel with busy morning rush. Everyone was in a hurry to go somewhere. Vacation, work or just to visit old family and friends. She turned back and waved rampantly, gesturing her hand back and forth. The signal was well understood...

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“Another Time Around” by Jessica Berkowitz

Submitted to Contest #168

Why is it that horror movies always seem to include some version of skipping records, spiral staircases, or ticking clock faces?The train made a loop counterclockwise around his basement. Tiny treetops, some of their foliage dotted in reds and yellows to signify the start of fall, stand erect throughout the scene; a testament to the countless hours spent in the basement repeating the same tasks. Dot glue, dip in flocking; dot glue, dip in flocking. The water in the falls, suspended as if time didn’t exist at all. Yet, eve...

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“The Hand” by Maria Pretorius

Submitted to Contest #168

The train started to move in front of Anne. She reached the platform just as the train shut its doors. She looked around, the station was deserted, it was cold night and a sense the desolation swamped her. The only comfort was the large flood light above the platform, lighting the area, giving it an illusion of warmth. She looked at the information board. That was the last train. She was furious. She kicked the floor, dropped her bag and threw her arms up with an air of anger. She sat down loosened her high heels, crossed her legs and reach...

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“Finally, We Meet” by MELISSA SALAS

Submitted to Contest #168

I was new to town, and she was the first person I saw on the train. She dropped her lip gloss, but I was too distracted on gathering my thoughts and picking up my jaw to help her with it. Her soft brown eyes mesmerized my whole existence, her natural un-contoured nose matched the buttons on my levis button up. Me and her, we just belonged together. It didn’t make sense, but it was the expression I felt over the first person I had seen leading up to a terrible day before that train ride. I sat on a bench after my train ride, thinking about t...

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“GOODBYE MY LOVE” by Melinda Madrigal

Submitted to Contest #168

UNION TRAIN STATION 1942 Union train station is always packed especially now. I see men in uniform, there women by their side saying goodbye. Today it's my turn to say goodbye to my guy, my love Tommy. I've been at Union train station all morning watching many couples say goodbye not knowing if they will ever see their love again. I saw tears, laughter and hugs, then I saw loneliness. Tommy and I have been best friends since we were kids. I know it's weird for a girl to have a boy as a best friend, for me it wasn't. I was and still am ha...

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“Our Friends Among Enemies” by T. S. Memory

Submitted to Contest #168

The Agent wiped the sweat off his brow and adjusted his attire as he exited the vehicle. He checked his watch and saw he was an hour early as planned. Extending the handle on his suitcase, he strolled towards the train station. The Agent cleared the checkpoint on his side and headed to the second floor, where he found a nice spot with a vantage point over the entire place. Much of the train station were shut down except for the two-story central terminal, where trains bound towards the east and west converged. He could see processing checkpo...

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“Lilly Joy” by Mike Cohen

Submitted to Contest #168

Chapter One Thin as a twig, Maywood Sloper slouched against the only window in the room. Quiet and sorrowful, he stared through the filthy glass at the train tracks below, then turned and squinted at me. A pair of torn and muddied, black lace panties draped the clipboard in his hand. “I’ve lost her.” He coughed deep in hi...

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“Mortuary Station” by Tracey Martin

Submitted to Contest #168

It’s All Hallows’ Eve, and the night is whispering secrets. Three friends gather as they jump over the chained ironed gates leading to the old Mortuary Railway Station. “Didn’t I tell you this would be the perfect spot?” insists Mason with a wild grin. His athletic body has easily landed him on his feet from off the tall, sharp gates. He turns his head to the sound of a thud and a yelp. “I don’t know guys,” whimpers Howard as he dusts himself off and looks around. “I- I don’t think we should be here.” His slender fram...

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“The Train” by Meredith Gomes

Submitted to Contest #168

Danielle sat alone on the tan wooden bench checking off her list; it was crisp outside, a cold 28 degrees Fahrenheit, so she felt lucky to be near a heater. As she makes her way down the sunshine yellow paper pad to go through her checklist, she smells something. She hadn’t eaten yet and this was her chance to do so before her station was called. The scents of cinnamon sugar, fakery queso dip, and salty goodness lured her in. She practically floated her way over to the soft pretzel stand. “Hi! One order of cinnamon pretzel sticks, on...

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“Journey By Floodlight” by Ramon Martensen

Submitted to Contest #168

‘Now... will this be enough?’ Zsofi asked as she spread a package of noodles, two tomatoes, and a Tupperware filled with Goulash on his desk. ‘That’s fine, thank you very much.’ She had only brought one bottle of Palinka this time. ‘Your health is getting worse and I don’t want to be responsible for having you drink yourself to death.’ He couldn’t argue, even though he hadn’t told her about the cancer. She was the only one visiting him after all. Every two days she showed up with a bag full of groceries and some words about the o...

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“The Station of Golden Silence” by Rebecca Wilson

Submitted to Contest #168

On 22nd August 2022, I arrived at Helsinki-Vantaa airport with a luggage bag, a few euros and a broken spirit. I’d booked this trip about a month in advance on a sudden whim after delaying it for so long, with the hopes that it would reawaken something in me or at least be a comforting memory to take with me when I finally faced oblivion. I was tired, having risen early in the morning to catch my flight on top of already being weighed down by my depression. As such, all I wanted to do when I arrived was head straight to my hotel for some ...

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“Marsling MRT” by E. Y. Lin

Submitted to Contest #168

“Do you think you’ll have kids?” “Ugh and potentially turn into my mom? Probably, nah.” “I mean, you turned out pretty okay.” “That’s still TBD. The effects of forced piano lessons, tutoring, and the deprivation of a social life remain to be seen,” Monica said flatly, accepting her fate. Her mother’s strict control over her life was one of the reasons they were here at Marsling MRT station where Monica could conceivably be perennially “on her way home.” “Okay, don’t judge.” “What?” Sandy’s tone turned confessional, “Once I had ...

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“Never again” by Bart Couder

Submitted to Contest #168

Note to the judges: It is set in WWII, so it contains nazisme but in harmful daylight. It was one of those sunny September days when summer waved its last goodbyes. The large black train locomotives huffed and puffed, billowing out white steam simultaneously. The large clacking sounds indicated the wagons being locked into each other. On the platforms were long lines of suitcases ready to be processed. Soldiers in their pristine uniforms were talking to each other in high-spirited moods. Some smoked while others showed pictures of the...

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Make a train station an important part of your story.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 74 stories

“Maybe It Was Fate ” by FabWritesStuff -

“A time to leave” by Lunny Muffin

“Another Time Around” by Jessica Berkowitz

“The Hand” by Maria Pretorius

“Finally, We Meet” by MELISSA SALAS

“GOODBYE MY LOVE” by Melinda Madrigal

“Our Friends Among Enemies” by T. S. Memory

“Lilly Joy” by Mike Cohen

“Mortuary Station” by Tracey Martin

“The Train” by Meredith Gomes

“Journey By Floodlight” by Ramon Martensen

“The Station of Golden Silence” by Rebecca Wilson

“Marsling MRT” by E. Y. Lin

“Never again” by Bart Couder

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with someone looking out a train window.

Write a story about a character who is moving on, literally or figuratively.

Write a story about a character who misses a train, for better or worse.

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Bon voyage.”

Contest #168

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

280

Contest entries

105

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: