This book is simply a grandpa telling his grandson a story of the time he rode on a locomotive. Grandpa's memory was triggered by his grandson's reaction to the new sleek and shiny train they were about to board, which was the same reaction grandpa had to his old-time train. It was a very mild, uneventful story. The highlights of the story for me were their lunch (fried chicken, biscuits, and pickles) and learning what a crummy was, which was in the title. A crummy is a slang term used by railroad workers to refer to the caboose. Since it's at the end and receives all the soot and grime, it makes for a dirty, crummy ride. I like the banner painting at the top of the pages because it gives more context for the story since it matches the plot. Anna Hines did a great job on these pictures. ( )