GET THE INSIDE TRACK at NATIONAL TRAIN DAY
On Saturday, May 8th, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP) and fellow railroad organizations come together to celebrate the third annual National Train Day with family-friendly events across the state of Michigan.
The celebration commemorates the 141st anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad’s inception by bringing to life the rich narrative of how trains have transformed America.
Amtrak is using National Train Day to help raise awareness of the vital role rail plays in our nation’s transportation system. National Train Day spokesman is actor and avid train fan Taye Diggs, star of Private Practice.
Amtrak is sponsoring major events in Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, and Washington, D.C.. MARP and fellow railroad organizations have organized celebrations to take place in the following communities across Michigan (please see the below list for locations, times and festivities of each celebration). All events are on Saturday, May 8th at the respective cities’ Amtrak stations unless otherwise noted.
City: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 325 Depot Street
Time: 7:00am – 9:00am
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description: Coffee and donuts will be available to both passengers and guests, and a proclamation will be read by the Mayor of Ann Arbor.
City: Bangor, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 541 Railroad Street (former Pere Marquette station)
Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Sponsors: Beacon Specialized Living Services, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Holland Modular Railroad Club
Description: Join us at the historic Pere Marquette (Amtrak) station as we celebrate National Train Day. The Mayor of Bangor will read a proclamation following the arrival of Amtrak train 371, the Pere Marquette. Enjoy live music, refreshments, raffles, an operating HO scale model train layout from the Holland Modular Railroad Club and so much more.
City: Dearborn, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 16121 Michigan Avenue
Time: 6:30am – 11:30am
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description: Coffee and donuts will be provided, and a proclamation will be read by the Mayor of Dearborn.
City: Detroit, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 11 West Baltimore Avenue
Time: 6:48am – 11:23am
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description: National Train Day celebration and proclamation. Coffee and cake will be available to both passengers and guests throughout the morning. A proclamation will be presented to the Mayor just before noon.
City: Dowagiac, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 200 Depot Dr. (historic Michigan Central station)
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description: Stop by our open house at the depot to enjoy music from the local college and see displays by a model railroad club. Refreshments will be served.
City: Durand, Michigan ** Takes place May 15, 2010 **
Location: Durand Union Station – 200 Railroad Street
Time: 9:00am – 7:00pm
Description: Celebrate 35 years of our railroad heritage at Railroad Days, May 14-16. The historical depot will be open with model train displays, Operation Lifesaver will have educational information for all, tours of the caboose are available, and there will be a book opening for Imre Questlar.
City: East Lansing, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 1240 South Harrison Road
Time: 8:00am – 10:00am
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description: Join us for coffee and donuts and a reading of the National Train Day proclamation.
City: Flint, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 1407 South Dort Highway
Time: 6:30am – 1:00pm
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description: Celebrate National Train Day with us. Railroad displays, operating model railroads, Operation Lifesaver information, and refreshments will be available.
City: Holland, Michigan Location: Padnos Transportation Center – 171 Lincoln Avenue
Time: 7:30am – 8:30am
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description: Come greet the morning Pere Marquette train and enjoy refreshments and a proclamation read by the Mayor of Holland. Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers 7:30am – 8:30am Padnos Transportation Center – 171 Lincoln Avenue
City: Jackson, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 501 E. Michigan Avenue (historic Michigan Central station)
Time: 8:30am – 2:00pm
Sponsors: Central Michigan Model Railroad Club, Amtrak, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description: Join us as we celebrate National Train Day at “The Oldest Continuous Operational Railroad Designed and Built Passenger Train Station in the United States,” the historic Michigan Central Railroad (Amtrak) station in Jackson, Michigan. Don’t miss out on your chance to see trains, model trains, explore interactive and educational exhibits, trip planning and so much more.
City: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Location(s): 485 N. Burdick Street (Kalamazoo Transportation Center) and 9336 N. Riverview Dr. (Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society facility)
Time(s): 9:00am – 11:30am (Transportation Center), 12:00pm – 4:00pm (Model Railroad facility)
Sponsors: Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Amtrak, Vicksburg Depot Museum, CK&S Railfan Festival
Description: Join us as we celebrate National Train Day in the morning (9:00-11:30am) at the Kalamazoo Transportation Center (Amtrak station). Greet the arrival of Amtrak Wolverine trains 350 and 351 and Blue Water train 365 while exploring interactive and educational exhibits from the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society, Vicksburg Depot Museum and Delton’s CK&S Railfan Festival. From the station, the celebration continues at the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society’s facility (12:00-4:00pm) as part of the groups Annual Open House. Don’t miss out on seeing model trains, a full size caboose and so much more.
City: Niles, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 598 Dey Street (historic Michigan Central station)
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Amtrak, Four Flags Garden Club, Niles DDA Main Street, Cass County Model Railroad Club
Description: Join us at the historic 1892 Michigan Central Railroad station as we celebrate National Train Day. Greet the arrival of Amtrak train 365, the Blue Water, and Wolverine trains 350, 351 and 352 while exploring interactive and educational exhibits from the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Four Flags Garden Club, Niles DDA Main Street, and the Cass County Model Railroad Club.
City: St. Joseph, Michigan
Location: Amtrak Station – 410 1/2 Vine Street (former Pere Marquette station)
Time: 9:00 – 11:00am
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description: Come greet the morning Pere Marquette train and enjoy refreshments and a proclamation ready by the Mayor of St. Joseph.
(not sponsored by MARP)
City: Rochester, Michigan
Other locations in Michigan
Location: Oakland University (Meadow Brook Hall) – 2200 N. Squirrel Road
Time: 11:30am – 2:30pm
Description: On National Train Day, come to the Lunch & Learn at Meadow Brook Hall for a lecture about the Glancy Trains Collection at the Detroit Historical Museum. Lecture will feature John Lohmeier, President Meadow Brook Hall Squires, Meredith Long, Museum Services Coordinator of Meadow Brook Hall and Bob Cosgrove, Adjunct Curator of Glancy Trains at the Detroit Historical Museum. Complimentary tour of Meadow Brook Hall follows the lecture.
Want to volunteer at any of the above events?
Contact your MARP Editor. Your help is appreciated! MARP encourages its members to spread the word of the importance of passenger trains at the celebrations.