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On the weekend of Oct. 8th and 9th, 2011, Amtrak's 40th Anniversary Exhibit Train visited Jackson, Michigan for the train's Michigan Showing. The Exhibit Train featured two restored Amtrak locomotives and featured four 1950s restored Budd passenger cars, along with a solo Amfleet, used as a rolling railroad store. Here, we see the train at Parma, Michigan, on its way to Jackson.Jackson Station is Amtrak's oldest depot, being in service for over 137 years. It was the perfect centralized location, with great historical significance for the train to be displayed at. As you can see, this event was for the entire family, both young and old came out to explore the many exhibits and stands at the Station. The most popular of these exhibits, were the Chuggington toy train set and the model railroad display by the Michigan Central Model Railroad Club, where the young railroaders could get a hands on railroad experience at a young age. We were invited by Amtrak on a special private tour of the exhibit train. To start off, we were invited into the cab of Amtrak P40 #822.Trainmaster Marica Marsh was gracious enough to give MARP a tour inside the cab of the locomotive, explaining the controls and features of a General Electric P40. She then took us through a corridor to the engine hall, where she explained the various upgrades #822 received when overhauled at Beech Grove. 822 was built for Amtrak in 1993 by General Electric in Erie, Pa., this 4,000 horse power locomotive will provide the pulling power for the Exhibit Train. It was originally based in New Orleans and operated on various long distance routes. The 822 was later reassigned to Albany, N.Y. and operated in the northeast until stored as surplus in 2003. It was selected as one of the 15 P40 locomotives to be upgraded and returned to service as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.Later, we were invited inside Amtrak NPCU #406, which was built for Amtrak in July 1988 by EMD as a 3,000 horse power F40PH locomotive number #406, was rebuilt as Non Powered Control Unit #406 in 2011 at the Beech Grove, Ind., maintenance facility. As a locomotive, the 406 operated all over the country on various routes before being stored in 2001. It was slated to become an NPCU to augment the push-pull fleet, and chosen to be part of the Exhibit Train because it can control a locomotive without the expense of additional fuel, allowing a train to operate in either direction without turning around. It will also provide Head End Power (HEP) to power the lights and HVAC systems onboard the train. After touring the locomotives, Steve Ostrowski, Trainmaster of the Exhibit Train, gave us a tour throughout the Anniversary Exhibit Cars. For more information on Amtrak's 40th Anniversary Train, MARP, or Jackson Station, visit:http://www.amtrak40th.comhttp://www.facebook.com/jacksonamtrakstationhttp://www.marp.orghttp://www.youtube.com/user/MARPOfficialMusic by Amtrak, Jesse Dillon, and Green Frog Productions LLC
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