All Aboard ! National Train Day

Written by David Weisman
Posted in Community

Your train has arrived… All of San Luis County is invited to celebrate the third annual National Train Day at the San Luis Obispo train station on Saturday, May 8th.  The date commemorates the anniversary of driving the golden spike that linked the east and west coast of the United States in 1869, and celebrates our railroad history and future.

The celebration is free and open to the public from noon to 4 PM at the Amtrak San Luis Obispo Train Station, 1011 Railroad Avenue at Santa Rosa where you’ll find plenty of free parking. Refreshments will be served and there will be paper engineer caps for kids of all ages.

The San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association will sponsor a scale model railroad exhibit. Railroad photography by local Rich Hansen will be on display. Hansen’s photography of the SLO station won second place in Amtrak’s national competition. The popular Red Skunk Dixieland Band will be play some jazzy railroad themed tunes!

Whether you are avoiding increased gas prices, frustrating traffic, airline hassles, or simply reducing your greenhouse gas emissions, there’s never been a better time to climb on board and take the train.  Trains are more energy efficient than domestic air travel and automobiles, and unlike planes, you can use your tray table, your cell phone, your laptop and recline your seat any time you want! Get up and move about, grab a snack or a full meal, or just take in the beautiful coastal scenery on the trip from San Luis Obispo down the coast to Los Angeles. 

Amtrak has three trains each way daily between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles, plus one train daily to and from the Bay Area and on to Portland and Seattle. In addition, there are frequent, comfortable Amtrak California bus/train connections to the Bay Area and the San Joaquin Valley. Ridership is growing in popularity; last year over 4 million people rode the California Corridor trains—second only to the Northeast corridor in terms of passengers.

Along with the helpful station agents, hosts and volunteers will be available to answer questions and help with trip planning.  Real trains will be arriving and departing at 12:45 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:07 PM and 3:30 PM. Amtrak is offering many incentives and special deals for travel between now and train day, visit them on the web at www.amtrak.com  or see www.nationaltrainday.com