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 Posted - May 09 2010 : 3:52:38 PM
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Did anyone know that in the U.S yesterday - sat MAY 8TH 2010 was National Train Day across the country? I didn't - Just seen an advertisement for it. Anyone attend an event in their state - My home state of NC had many locations celebrating this with free posters memorabilia food and refreshments
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Posted - May 09 2010 : 4:27:52 PM
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I did saw it on 1chan.net/rail But didn't do anything for it  Oh well I'll have fun on May 22nd at train show THEN going to Ft Collins to ride the trolley there!
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Posted - May 09 2010 : 8:26:11 PM
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| I didnt know that,they should put it on the calenders.
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Posted - May 09 2010 : 9:56:41 PM
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Heck yes I knew about it! We had a great day visiting the "open house" events at a couple places in Independence, MO. The first was the small Amtrak station, which houses a historical library. There wasn't much there aside from a very small layout (all Tyco!) and an old Mopac caboose, but the highlight was watching a freight train rumble by with my daughter. We got to stand right outside the station, just a few feet from the tracks. She went crazy!
The second spot was a restored depot for the Chicago and Alton railway. They've turned it into a really nice little museum. My only complaint is that they really want to give you a guided tour...which wouldn't bother me except that they assume everyone is an idiot or grew up in the city and doesn't know anything. But aside from that, it was fun and they served cake and punch to celebrate.
Here's a link to their site: http://chicagoalton1879depot.org/
Check it out. It's really a neat little place.
One quick story: there was a woman in front of us looking at a display about hobos. She must have been in her late 40's or so. She kept saying to her companion "I don't know who hobo is. He must have been an employee." Then she commented on the display of hobo signs and said "I don't know what that is. Why would hobos have signs. I just don't know." She seemed really puzzled. I guess she doesn't know what it's like to be out of work and hungry. Then she proceeded to knock over one of the HO scale display trains. The highlight of the story though, is that when my 5...almost 6..year old daughter walked up to the display she said "Oh look, hobos! That sign means danger, don't go there. They traveled on the trains. etc..." Just like an expert.
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Posted - May 10 2010 : 11:16:43 PM
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| I took my 3 year old son to Union Station in Chicago for the National Train Day events there. He had a blast. It was a bit confusing the way everything was laid out in the Great Hall, with displays on Blues Music, Amtrak K9 officers, Dining Car cooking demonstrations, and the live Blues music. There were tours of Amtrak trains (Empire Builder and Hiawatha) along with tours of CN/IC business cars and a number of 'private varnish' including a Milwaukee Road Super Dome and Skytop Lounge. One of my few complaints is geared towards the creepy looking middle-aged and older railfans there without children that feel the need to squeeze out the little kids who are trying to color in the kids craft section: Do you really need to grab as many of the free coloring books and cardboard engineer caps as you can? OK, rant aside, I had a wonderful day with my son and we can't wait until next year.
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