- National Train Day
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2009 National Train Day poster published by Amtrak, "Trainiacs Unite".
National Train Day is a holiday started by Amtrak in 2008 as a method to spread information to the general public about the advantages of rail travel and the history of trains in the United States. It is held each year on the Saturday closest to May 10th, the anniversary of the pounding of the Golden Spike in Promontory, Utah which marked the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Events are held at Amtrak stations as well as railroad museums across the country and often have passenger cars and model railroad layouts on display. The largest events usually take place in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, PA, Chicago, IL, and Los Angeles, CA. [1]
Contents
Types of Events
The major events of National Train Day usually consist of equipment displays in the major stations across the Amtrak system. This includes Acela and Keystone sets in the Northeastern cities, and Superliner cars in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Florida that are used on long distance trains in those regions. In addition, many private cars are also put on display. Most smaller events usually consist of a model train layout from a local club or other train-related items on display.
Because of a scheduling conflict on the original National Train Day in 2008, Toledo Union Station hosted their NTD event a week before the rest of the country in 2008. This tradition of having the 'first' Train Day has continued every year since at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza Amtrak and intermodal station. [2]
Besides events at active Amtrak stations, railway history museums participate in National Train Day as well. This often includes tours of historic rail cars and excursion train rides. [3]
The 2011 event will also celebrate Amtrak's 40th Anniversary celebration, as the company first went into service on May 1, 1971.
Celebrity Spokespersons
On National Train Day May 8, 2010 in Los Angeles Union Station, the opening ceremony was kickoff with a video message from actor Taye Diggs, the national spokesperson. Huell Howser was a MC/speaker. Also that same day in New York Penn Station, the cast of Cake Boss presented a special cake to Amtrak for the event.[4]
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer Gladys Knight is the spokesperson for National Train Day 2011. One of her most noteworthy songs is "Midnight Train to Georgia".
References
- ^ "Amtrak readies for National Train Day". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-04-amtrak-trainday_N.htm.
- ^ "National Train Day Toledo". www.facebook.com. http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Train-Day-Toledo/120247864663680.
- ^ "National Train Day at Danbury Railway Museum". www.CTVisit.com. http://www.ctvisit.com/eventdetail.aspx?id=10329.
- ^ "'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro presents train cake at Penn Station". NJ.com. http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2010/08/cake_boss_buddy_valastro_goes.html.
External links
Categories:- Trains
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