National Train Day is approaching fast and we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some events taking place around the state on May 8, 2010! 2010 marks Amtrak’s third year celebrating America’s love of train travel. It’s a perfect day to get your kids, family and neighbors to discover the benefits of traveling by train!
Which event will you be attending on National Train Day? Hosting an event or want to get involved? Let us know!
Los Angeles Union Station
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Don’t miss your chance to see model trains, train equipment displays and exhibits. Featuring appearances by Californias Gold’s Huell Howser and Chef Marcel Lagnaz. Live performances by the USC Trojan Marching band and Playhouse Disney’s Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve.
Sacramento – California State Railroad Museum
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Join Amtrak California/Caltrans in conjunction with the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority in celebrating the third annual National Train Day at the California State Railroad Museum. Rail travel has been particularly important to Sacramento for more than 100 years, and visitors will have a chance to commemorate the history of railroads and to look toward the future of the industry. There will be an Amtrak California car on site as well as 21 other full size historical trains on display at the museum. Visitors will have a chance to also interact with other partnering Sacramento transportation organizations, and learn about their many contributions to rail in the capital.
Coast Starlight #11 between Martinez and Paso Robles
8:20 AM – 1:38 PM
Join the Coast Starlight Communities Network in theSightseer Lounge Car to pick up our new booklet “Improving America’s Premier Long-Distance Train”, informational literature, kid’s activity pages, cookies and more!
Salinas Amtrak Station
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Live music, food, the crazy hat and a vintage luggage contest. Tour the beautifully restored steam locomotive, caboose and reefer car, as well as the new railroad museum. Celebrate with live music and a BBQ.
Coast Starlight #14 between Paso Robles and Emeryville
4:45 PM – 10:02 PM
Join the Coast Starlight Communities Network in theSightseer Lounge Car to pick up our new booklet “Improving America’s Premier Long-Distance Train”, informational literature, kid’s activity pages, cookies and more!
ThruWay #4798 / Coast Starlight #14 between Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo
12:50 PM – 4:45 PM
This trip is limited to 20 rail fans and reservations must be made and paid for well in advance at theWine Wrangler (805-238-5700) located in the Amtrak Station at 800 Pine Street in Paso Robles. Excursion tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children up to 15 years of age. The Amtrak Bus #4798 departs the Paso Robles Amtrak Station at 12:50 pm and arrives in SLO at 1:45pm. After spending time at the SLO station and Historical Railroad District fans will return on Coast Starlight #14 which departs SLO at 3:43pm and arrives back in Paso Robles at 4:45pm. This train ride up the Cuesta Grade is one of the most interesting and historically significant portions along the coastal line. The Wine Wrangler and the City of Paso Robles are unable to host NTD events this year at the station due to parking lot and sidewalk construction.
San Luis Obispo Amtrak Station
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Fun for the whole family! A Dixieland jazz band will be playing, there will be a rail photo exhibition, as well as refreshments and paper trains and hats for the kids.
Santa Barbara Amtrak Station
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Take a roundtrip train ride from Santa Barbara to Carpinteria. Enjoy a press conference with elected officials, a magician, refreshments, and a cookie decorating contest. The train ride and station event will be filmed for replay on the local public access channel.
Guadalupe Amtrak Station
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, in cooperation with the Guadalupe Chamber of Commerce and the Guadalupe Historical Society, will host an open house at the historical SMVRR 210 caboose, on display at the Amtrak stop in Guadalupe. There will be docents on hand to answer questions about the caboose and the importance of rail service to our communities.
Oceanside
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Join the North County Transit District, the operators of the SPRINTER light rail train and the COASTER rail service as we celebrate trains at the Oceanside Transit Center! Enjoy free giveaways and an interactive model railroad display. In honor of National Train Day and the COASTER 15th anniversary, two-for-one fares are offered on the COASTER and SPRINTER all day on Saturday, May 8!
Dunsmuir – A Historic Railroad Town
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Railroad Display Room with railroad artifacts and locomotive photos will be open for viewing. “Train” movies will be running all day. Free Amtrak paper engineer hats and cardboard trains for children. See the Railroad Mural in the waiting room and our new mural “Goodbye” near our new bench where you can sit and view passing trains. Photo display of Babe Ruth’s visit in 1924 when he got off his special train and decided to play our local players at the Dunsmuir Ball park.
Fresno Amtrak Station
10:00 – 2:00 PM
Offering docent tours of our historic station, model train displays, presentations by Operation Lifesaver, along with their engine simulator, educational and informational booths and an activity center for kids.
Truckee Railroad Museum
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Come celebrate the grand opening of the Truckee Railroad Museum. Enjoy a performance by a local school band and chorus group, listen to various speakers, and see Mayor Carolyn Dee perform the grand opening ribbon cutting. Booths will be set up in the parking lot with a silent auction, museum program and education information, and a small operating train layout.
San Bernardino Amtrak Station
May 8-9 – 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Enjoy a BNSF locomotive, Santa Fe Steam Locomotive 3751, private passenger cars, Metrolink equipment, Amtrak Bus, model railroads, and historic vehicles, as well as food, music, and vendors. Event sponsored by the San Bernardino History & Railroad Museum, the City of San Bernardino, and the San Bernardino Bicentennial Committee.
For additional information…
Visit the National Train Day website.
You can also connect with National Train Day via Twitter and Facebook.