Today me and my daughter went to National Train Day in Union Station in Washington DC. We usually take the Metro but today's schedule was too tight to allow it (oh well). A lull around 12:30 let us get into the train equipment display without a reservation, which we RAN to see.
The line to tour the Acela Express was the longest line of them all. Hundreds of people wanted to see the Acela. They seemed to be serving food in First Class. Since we're riding Acela in a couple months we skipped that part but walked the length of the lower platform to see the overnight train in a most unusual consist pulled by an AEM-7 spitting its brake air.
I finally got to see the awesome Metroliner 2 coaches for the first time in over 10 years. I used to ride Metroliners and as many of you know they've been spread out all over the system after Acela went into service--they're called Amfleet "Capstone" and "Club Dinette" now. I sure wish they'd use them on the NEC again.
We extensively toured all the Superliner sleepers and dining cars, MARC and VRE cars, and we even stood on the VRE and MARC locomotives (these were unannounced surprises, I do not know which units were presented, sorry!). Along with regular Union Station terminal railroad operations we also got to see an Amtrak diesel switcher disembark. I also finally found the real bell on the AEM-7; it's under the locomotive!
There were huge lines going through the MARC and VRE commuters to walk through Dover Harbor for some reason so we elected to shortcut directly to Georgia 300 instead. What a nice car they both are. Dover Harbor was collecting donations and $200 ride tickets for fundraising.
Georgia 300 seemed to be in front of the Acela Express, but my recollection is probably faulty here. We got to stand on Georgia 300 where Obama was, saw Dover Harbor up close (it is often seen in storage at Union Station).
Next month we'll go to the 15th Annual Manassas Heritage Railway Festival on June 6. VRE hosts excursion rides!! So far the kids have only seen the trains arrive and disembark. We're threatening to bring a camera this time.
The N-scale model folks even showed us how train slack works in a way both me and my kid could understand right on his N-scale freight train. They had a tiny N-scale Metrolink, Thomas, and a couple of freights too.
The O-scale models were exciting for my kid since it has Thomas but to me O-scale is toy train territory.
Hope your National Train Day was as fun as ours!!
Made it to Train Day in Portland (Or) Union Station. Compared to your Washington DC display it was a small one. SP4449 was there along with the former SP&S 600 "Mt Hood" Pullman lounge car and a Ex: GN Caboose. Not open to the public was two former Espee executive cars the "Sunset" and "Stanford". While it was great to see them they should be in Espee colours not those of the Yello Peril.
Los Angeles had some Amtrak and Metrolink equipment on display, along with a UP engine, ATSF 3751, and an Amtrak train "wrapped" for Disney's Christmas Carol movie. There was also a private car - GM&O 50, "Patron Tequila". Inside the station there were several tables with info, including rail advocacy groups, travel agents, and other organizations.
Here are some pics: A Pacific Surfliner engine decked out in Operation Life Saver "surf" theme; and the AT&SF 3751.
There were lines for all the displays.
A friend and I went to the Train day event at Los Angeles,then took Metrolink to the Train Day events at San Bernardino.They had a brand new BNSF 7200 series GE loco and a Mertolink train on display.
Hi Everyone:
I was also at National Train Day at Union Station in Los Angeles and you might be interested in the following stories on trainweb.com:
http://www.trainweb.com/ntd.html
---"Ken" Ruben---
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