All aboooooard! America’s 15th annual National Train Day is ready to roll at railroads, train museums, and organizations across the USA. National Train Day commemorates the driving of the golden spike that completed the country’s transcontinental railroad on May 10th, 1869. Now, over 150 years later, train lovers, rail fans and everyday commuters alike will come together with families and friends to celebrate America’s great railroading heritage. Kids’ activities, hands-on exhibits, model train layouts, and railway memorabilia are popular attractions and train rides are often part of the fun!
Launched by Amtrak in 2008, National Train Day provides a way to share information on the history, benefits, and joys of train travel. The event continues to chug along even though Amtrak no longer plays an active role. These days National Train Day events are locally sponsored and no two are alike.
This year, most National Train Day events will be spread over two consecutive weekends: on Saturday, May 7th, however some events are scheduled for Sunday the 8th (Mothers Day) and even at other times of the year! Of course, this year’s National Train Day has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Most event hosts have made some adjustments for safety’s sake, while others are waiting until 2023 to celebrate Train Day again.
At this year’s National Train Day events, your family can expect safe practices like wearing masks and keeping safe distances to be encouraged – or required. Also in effect are stepped up precautionary routines like frequent deep cleaning and sanitizing on board, in the station, and beyond. And while trains may be running at full throttle, outposts like snack bars and exhibition areas may remain closed. Finally, many railroads are running open-air coaches to offer an extra measure of safety.
To catch a National Train Day event near you, check out the list below. No event in your area? With around two hundred scenic train rides and heritage railways in over forty states, why not improvise a DIY National Train Day all your own?
Delaware
Yorklyn, Delaware
Train Day at Marshall Steam Museum at Auburn Heights, Sunday, May 1st, 2022 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Maryland
Chesapeake Beach, Maryland
Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum, Saturday, May 7th, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Missouri
Jackson, Missouri
National Train Day at St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway featuring a James Gang Train Robbery reenactment, Saturday, May 14th, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.
New York
Albany, New York
New York Central System Historical Society Train Show runs Sunday, May 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
North Carolina
Spencer, North Carolina
North Carolina Transportation Museum Train Show at Spencer Shops, Saturday, May 14, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. and Sunday, May 15th, 2022 from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Ohio
Lebanon, Ohio
Reduced ticket pricing, Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, Saturday, May 1th, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Painesville, Ohio
Painesville Railroad Museum, Model Train Flea Market, Saturday, May 7th, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo Train Day, Amtrak Station, Saturday, May 14th, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Texas
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson Train Days & Model Train Show, Saturday, May 14th, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday May 15, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Temple, Texas
Family Train Day fun at Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum on Saturday, May 7th, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Virginia
Ashland, Virginia
Ashland Train Day featuring model trains, railroad history and lore, more, Saturday, April 30th, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Washington
Reardan, Washington
National Train Day Celebration at Inland Rail Museum, Friday, May 6th to Sunday, May 8th, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
