Actor Taye Diggs is this year's National Train Day Spokesperson. He will launch the event's festivities with a ceremony at New York's Penn station on Friday, May 7 before traveling to Washington, D.C. for the full celebration on Saturday, May 8. And what kind of item will the opening ceremony reveal for such an occasion? An edible "trainscape," of course! Yum!
The cake and other train-themed treats commemorate the 141st anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad. The expansion of the method of transportation transformed America and opened up a number of travel possibilities that influenced individuals and businesses. This is the third year that Amtrak trains have put on spotlight on the anniversary.
The event is educational, as well as especially family-friendly. According to a press release issued by Amtrak in regard to the National Train Day celebration:
"On May 8, Amtrak will host free events, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., in four of its gateway stations across the U.S.: Washington, D.C., 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 are 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."
Not everyone prefers to travel on airplanes, so the event brings attention to the fact that there are other travel options--even for long distances.
By understanding the history of trains in America, you can get a better understanding of the railroad's influence on the future of transportation. You don't have to be Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, or Los Angeles to get involved. Host an event in your local town to honor National Train Day!
