Here’s the description of events taking place in San Antonio:
Event Description: Amtrak Station in San Antonio will host the sixth annual Nation Train Day with its volunteers, community organizations, and partners. This special one-day, large scale, family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Free parking will be available at the Ellis Alley Park and Ride lot located at 212 Chestnut Street. The day will begin with an Opening Ceremony with a Color Guard from Sam Houston High School JROTC followed by several invited guest speakers. Visitors will climb aboard vintage Southern Pacific engine No. 794 for a rare chance to the see the inside of the locomotive cab and have a feel for what it was like to engineer a puffing steam engine a century ago. The locomotive is undergoing restoration by the San Antonio Railroad Heritage Museum, Inc. Also on display will be a collection of motor cars (rail inspection vehicles). Numerous exhibits in the passenger loading area will feature the National Park Service's Trails and Rails Program which will be providing volunteer assistance for the day. VIA Metropolitan Transit will be providing information about its activities, services, and schedules. Exhibits from the Texas Transportation Museum will showcase a large scale operating Amtrak model train. Smile Structure will be providing information to children encouraging good diet for strong teeth and dental hygiene. AAA Texas will be present with information, including discounts on most Amtrak fares, to their members and to the public at large. The biking community will be present as part of National Bike Month promoting various biking opportunities in the San Antonio area. The Old Spanish Trail Association will be providing information about the organization and its historical link that roughly parallels the route of Amtrak's Sunset Limited. Other exhibits will be from area hobby and model shops promoting model railroading. These retail outlets will be providing information on store location, types of equipment carried, and the newest product lines. In the Amtrak Station, numerous area model railroad associations and clubs will be set up with layouts and information about the hobby. These layouts will offer a unique chance to see some of the area's best model systems and visit with the experts who have built them Volunteers will be staffing the Operation Lifesaver exhibit to remind motorists and others of the public's responsibility and safety around railroad crossings. Local Amtrak personnel will be providing national route schedules and other literature and will be available to answer questions concerning travel by rail. Children will be given an age-appropriate item to take home. Additional speakers on a variety of subjects are scheduled at midday in a special seating area. This year the Planning Committee has issued a special invitation to the military community and their families for this event. In addition, the Committee has extended an invitation and outreach to include organizations and the individuals they serve for persons with special needs or mobility issues. The purpose is to increase their understanding of accessibility when on the train and the benefits of traveling by rail. If available, a tour of Superliner passenger equipment is planned for this event. Given its availability, visitors can experience the look and feel of Amtrak's premier long distance passenger rail equipment. This and similar equipment is used by trains serving San Antonio daily
Go HERE to find a location participating near you.
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