Tracks and Amtrak Celebrate National Train Day

Saturday, May 7, 2011 (tomorrow) is National Train day! It’s a coast-to-coast celebration with big events across the nation.

Amtrak is calling all train enthusiasts, young and old, to join in the festivities at train stations in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Chicago. From 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., train lovers will enjoy free live entertainment, interactive and educational exhibits, kids' activities and elaborate model train displays, plus tours of Amtrak equipment, freight and commuter trains, and notable private railroad cars.

Each event will also feature exclusive exhibits highlighting contributions made to the railway throughout history, such as the B&O Railroad and Civil War exhibit in Washington, D.C.; The Great Migration exhibit in Philadelphia; Hands on the Past: Mexican Contributions To The Railroad exhibit in Chicago; and the California Missions and East Meets West exhibits in Los Angeles. Amtrak will also start its year-long celebration of 40 years as America's Railroad.

The festivities at Union Station in D.C. include a performance by Gladys Knight who immortalized trains in Midnight Train to Georgia.

The train featured in Tracks, a novel in stories, passes through Union Station. And Tracks will have a presence at the Union Station event in DC. Look for some Tracks handouts while you’re there!

Learn more about National Train day at the official website.

http://www.nationaltrainday.com/