MARP Board Member Jim Wallington and Sandy Duffy were guests on the Paul Miller show on WPHM 1380 AM. They spoke about National Train Day and the current state of passenger rail in Michigan.
Click the link below to listen:
http://www.wphm.net/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=6371853
UPDATE :: Transportation Funding Legislative Bills 1:30 pm to 2 p.m., May 15, 2013
On Saturday, May 11, 2013, Amtrak will join communities across America to celebrate the importance of trains to their towns at the sixth annual National Train Day. More than 200 communities are expected to host events at local train stations, railroad museums and other locations commemorating this year’s theme “Trains Matter.”
“National Train Day invites communities big and small to share the importance of trains as a vital transportation option and engine of economic development and employment,” said Amtrak Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Matt Hardison.
In addition to events in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles, Amtrak is expanding its efforts to support events in many local markets across the country served by America’s Railroad®. Event offerings will vary to include train equipment displays, family-friendly activities and local dignitaries.
Details on National Train Day events and information on how to host a National Train Day event are available at NationalTrainDay.com. Additional events and information will be added to the website frequently. In addition, rail passengers and enthusiasts are invited to share why trains matter to them via Facebook or @natltrainday.
Here are Michigan events listed on the National Train Day website:
Ann Arbor, MI (ARB), 325 Depot Street, Ann Arbor MI 48104
7 a.m. to 1 p.m: Join us on National Train Day for train travel information, donuts, coffee and City proclamation.
Bangor, MI (BAM), 541 Railroad Street, Bangor MI 49013
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: The celebration will kick off with the arrival of the Pere Marquette train at which time a proclamation will be read to the Amtrak Crew by the Bangor City Mayor. The family-friendly event will include Amtrak Junior Conductor Hats, 2013 National Train Day stickers, train travel planning information available from the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers Volunteer Station Host, live music, a HO scale model railroad layout, and much more; with refreshments served throughout the event.
Birmingham, MI (BMM), Villa Road and Lewis Street, Birmingham MI 48009
5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Interactive NTD event with station passengers and visitors, promoting national system of passenger rail service and enhancements that are occurring. Focus will be the under construction new facility across the tracks for the Troy Birmingham train station. First early a.m. event will be with the arrival/departure of Train #351 and the afternoon arrival/departure of Train #350.
Dearborn, MI (DER), 16121 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126
6 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Join us for National Train Day! Enjoy free coffee and donuts. Flyers will be distributed.
Detroit, MI (DET), 11 W. Baltimore Ave, Detroit MI 48202
7 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Coffee, bagels, and donuts will be available for the first 30 people.
Durand Train Enthusiasts, Exchange Road, Durand MI 48429
9 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Pack your cooler, favorite lawn chair, and hangout near the tracks in Michigan’s favorite train spotters town, Durand. Stay for the week and enjoy the Durand Railroad Days Festival the following weekend. As usual, safety first! Stay off the tracks!
East Lansing, MI (LNS), 1240 South Harrison Road, East Lansing MI 48823
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Join us for a National Train Day celebration organized by Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers!
Ferndale, MI – Rainy Day Hobbies – National Train Day Open House, 22929-22941 Woodward Avenue, Ferndale MI 48220
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Open House celebrating all things trains! Model railroad layouts, model train demonstrations, videos of trains & destinations, train control demonstrations, children’s’ train coloring contest – winner wins a train set! Food & Beverages! HO – O – N Scale trains and wooden trains!
Flint, MI (FLN), 1407 South Dort Highway, Flint MI 48503
6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Displays of National Association of Railway Business Women, Operation Lifesaver, Model Train Layout (running), Mid- Michigan Railroad Historical Society, refreshments, drawing for RR related items. Colorsheets/hats for the kids. Organizers are attempting to get rail equipment for display.
Holland, MI (HOM), 171 Lincoln Avenue, Holland MI 49423
7 a.m. to 9 a.m.: The celebration will kick off with the arrival of the Pere Marquette train at which time a proclamation will be read to the Amtrak Crew by the Holland Elected Officials. The family-friendly event will include Amtrak Junior Conductor Hats, 2013 National Train Day stickers, and train travel planning information available from the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers Volunteer Station Host, and much more with refreshments served throughout the event.
Jackson, MI (JXN), 501 East Michigan Avenue, Jackson MI 49201
8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: The National Train Day event will feature free kids’ activities sponsored by Chuggington, interactive and educational exhibits, model train displays and giveaways.
Jackson District Library, 244 West Michigan Avenue, Jackson MI 49201
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Michael Hodges, author of “Michigan’s Historic Railroad Stations” will be giving a lecture and slideshow on Michigan depots. There will be time for Q & A with the author and book sale and signing.
Kalamazoo, MI (KAL), 498 North Burdick Street, Kalamazoo MI 49007
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: N Scale Model Train Layout, Literature, Jr. Conductor Hats and Amtrak Guidebooks to be Available
Lapeer, MI 48446 – Sidetracks, 266 Lake Nepessing Road, Lapeer MI 48446
11 a.m. to midnight: Come enjoy a great meal with us, stay for the band or relax on our patio and watch the trains go by.
Lapeer, MI – Roadside Attractions, 3501-3681 South Lapeer Road, Metamora MI 48455
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: The eight month restoration of an 1895 wooden railway caboose from the Grand Trunk Railway is finally complete. Come explore life as a caboose foreman, listen to stories of the railroad, view our LEGO rail yard, play with Thomas the Tank Engine toys, visit craft stations and cool off with free ice cream.
New Buffalo, MI (NBM), 226 North Whittaker Street, New Buffalo MI 49117
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Publicizing National Train Day and the New Buffalo Railroad Museum by greeting passengers traveling on the 11:24 am train from New Buffalo to Chicago and passengers traveling on the 12:50 pm train from Chicago to New Buffalo. We will have signs, literature and treats.
Niles, MI (NLS), 902 North 5th Street, Niles MI 49120
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: National Train Day- Celebrating the history of the Niles Amtrak Depot-flowers for all the ladies, like the Michigan Central did 100 years ago, beautiful gardens to enjoy, slide show of the Depot gardens through the years, cake, cookies and refreshments for all, toy trains for the kids and more.
Niles, MI – Fernwood’s Railway Garden, 13988 Range Line Road, Niles MI 49120
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Celebrate National Train Day at Fernwood Botanical Garden, Berrien County’s only botanical garden. See the Railway Garden designed by Paul Busse and his team at Applied Imagination, designers of more than 100 railway gardens across the U.S. Four G-scale trains run along tracks at various levels, from ground level to overhead. Trains cross trestles and bridges, and pass a waterfall, pond, and scale buildings made of natural materials that represent local historical buildings. Located near the new children’s nature adventure garden.
We thought we would share this video that recently aired on Central Michigan University’s public television station about one of Michigan’s best stations.
Caption: In this episode: when steam engines were king, the city of Durand was the crown jewel of the railroads. We’ll show you the rich history and the restoration of the Durand Union Station.
Michigan Technological University, Houghton MI, is offering a week long summer youth program designed to create awareness of, and stimulate interest in, the world of rail and intermodal transportation. Students will learn why trains are called the “green transportation alternative”, how fast high-speed passenger trains move, and how containers find their way from China to USA.
The program is open to current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students. Included are technical tours to rail and intermodal facilities in Marquette, MI and Duluth, MN. Full scholarships are available to all who are accepted in the program.
The program is a collaborative effort by Michigan Tech’s Rail Transportation Program and the Transportation and Logistics Management Program at University of Wisconsin—Superior.
For more details and a program application, visit http://www.syp.mtu.edu/docs/RTP_App.pdf