Amtrak will host the third annual National Train Day on May 8 with events across the country to celebrate America‘s love for trains.National Train Day commemorates the 141st anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad‘s inception by bringing to life the rich narrative of how trains transformed America. Large-scale, family-friendly events will be held in Washington DC, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Actor and avid train fan Taye Diggs, star of Private Practice, will start the weekend’s festivities with a ceremony at New York’s Penn Station on Friday, May 7, where he will flip the switch that launches an edible “trainscape” made from elaborate confections and moving model trains.
Afterward, Diggs will board Amtrak and travel to Washington DC to host one of National Train Day’s signature celebrations at Union Station and enjoy the festivities with other train fans on Saturday, May 8.
On that day, in addition to Washington DC, Amtrak will host free events from 11am to 4pm in three other of its gateway stations across the U.S. – Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles, all designed to help people “discover the rail way”. These large scale events will feature live entertainment, interactive and educational exhibits, kids’ entertainment, model train displays and tours of notable private railroad cars, Amtrak equipment, freight and commuter trains.
In addition, local communities across the country have been encouraged to develop and host their own National Train Day celebrations. More than 140 local celebrations took place in 2009 and Amtrak expects even more in 2010.
For more information about top events across the USA, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events across the country.
For more information visit the official website about National Train Day .