Do the names Thomas, Percy, and Topham have special meaning in your household? Does your child go loco for locomotives? If you’ve got a young train enthusiast in your midst, then take note: This Saturday, May 7, is the 4th Annual National Train Day, a coast-to-coast celebration of America’s love of trains and the 40th anniversary of Amtrak service in the U.S.
Locally, the main festivities will take place at the obvious venue — Union Station. From 11am – 4pm, guests of all ages can enjoy and experience a variety of train-related fun. Live entertainment, interactive and educational exhibits, kids’ activities, model train displays and tours of Amtrak equipment, freight and commuter trains, and notable private railroad cars.
Young engineers are also invited to help Amtrak celebrate its birthday at the AmtraKids Depot, where non-stop fun will include creating party decorations, engaging in cool arts and crafts, and decorating cookies. Kids can also rock out with the Diggity Dudes, a group that performs “hip music for hip kids.”
From there, you can chug on over to the National Postal Museum, where even more National Train Day activities will take place, also from 11am – 4pm. Relating to its “Moving the Mail” exhibit, the celebration will include hands-on fun for the whole family. Guests can speed-sort mail, watch model trains, toot a train whistle, make a souvenir stamp, and more. The National Postal Museum is located at 2 Massachusetts Avenue NW, and the event will take place in the Museum Atrium.
For more information about both FREE events see the National Train Day and National Postal Museum websites.
