A journey with the SE2 train conductor.

(Baonghean)By chance, I met him, the train conductor Hoang Van Minh, on the SE2 trans-Vietnam train. To this day, I still vividly remember his gait, his work, and his kind, friendly face, along with his colleagues. They continue to travel on trains, onward and outward, forever... Perhaps their ultimate destination is in the hearts of every passenger across the country!

The train departed from Saigon station at 7 PM on July 8th and arrived in Hanoi at 5:20 AM on July 10th (10 minutes behind schedule). The train had 13 carriages and over 30 people, including service staff and train conductors.

The work of those on the trains is hard. They serve passengers attentively. The manager of carriage number one on train SE2 that day was Mr. Nguyen Van Nhien (each carriage has one person in charge), his hair streaked with gray. He occasionally walked around and reminded people when the train was about to stop at a station so that passengers wouldn't forget. Sometimes he would pick up a broom to sweep away dust and pick up discarded bags or wipes that passengers had carelessly or intentionally thrown on the train floor (even though each carriage has a designated waste disposal area). When the night started to get cold, he would give each person a blanket. Sometimes he would interrupt his meal because a passenger would come to him asking for an extra blanket...

I was seated near the duty officer, Hoang Van Minh, in carriage number one. Therefore, I witnessed his meticulous work. From Saigon to Hanoi, Minh took turns on duty three times: from Saigon station to Muong Man station; from Dieu Tri station to Da Nang; and from Dong Hoi station to Vinh. These were his busiest times. In his hands was a file containing the train duty log. Every ten minutes or so, he would carefully and meticulously record the locations and times the train arrived and passed: speed, number of minutes fast or slow. I glanced at the log entry: "...Delayed 2 minutes at location... km 401+800 - km 401+680...". Every now and then, he would stop writing, calculate, and check his watch. His old watch, along with his flashlight, were his most indispensable companions in his work. As we passed through Quang Tri province, night had fallen. Occasionally, Minh would hold up his flashlight, peering out from behind the train to read the kilometer markers. Approaching a small station, he would check the flashlight again and then wave it outwards to signal the station guard. Watching him intently, I was both impressed and curious. I asked, "How do you know when the train is about to enter the station?" He smiled kindly and replied, "Because I've been in this profession for many years, I'm used to the rhythm of the train. The sound is completely different on the way to the station; it's deeper and smoother because there are more tracks!"

Upon arriving in Vinh, the ship's captain was off duty. He told me: His hometown is Ho Chi Minh City. He started his career in 1986, and has been working on ships for 23 years now. When he was younger, he loved traveling. Now, his life is tied to the ship. The salary is meager. He has to stay awake more than he sleeps, his eyes are dark and sunken, he can't gain weight, and his wages are tight. There are four trips a month, and his salary is based on the trip. On average, the crew member earns 400,000 VND per trip, the captain 500,000 VND, and on busier trips, the captain earns 600,000 VND. His wife works as a cleaning staff member at a company in Saigon, earning 1 million VND per month. With that income, the couple struggles to support their two children's education in Saigon. As a captain, ensuring the schedule is crucial; it keeps him on edge and stressed until the end of each trip...

My house is near the railway, and every day I hear the sound of trains echoing from afar. The train whistle reminds me of that journey, and I still picture the trains traveling back and forth, accompanying time and bringing people to their destinations. But those men who work on those trains continue their journeys, forever. Perhaps their destination is in the hearts of every passenger across the country.

Nguyen Thi Minh Loc