Modern trains have developed rapidly since their invention some 200 years ago. Trains can be classified as one of the most important inventions of modern history. Train transport has drastically changed business, exploration and the way we travel daily.
In the 1800's, the steam train made its way to the railways of industrial England. Today, we have bullet trains that carry passengers at incredible speeds, with a distance of thousands of miles in no time. There are also freight trains that are used to transport goods, including food, post and fuel. Distant lands have become almost instantly reachable. Long distances can be covered in a matter of hours. The industrial revolution was hastened by the arrival of trains, which made the transport of raw materials and outgoing transport of finished goods an easy task. Even with the arrival of airplanes, trains still continue to do a fair haul of public and commercial transport around the world. Trains are used in a variety of ways – from trams, subway electric trains, distance trains and specialized tourist trains to freight trains and high-speed bullet trains that can go up to 275 miles an hour.
National Train Day marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Golden Spike in Promontory, Utah, at the Promontory summit. The day also observes the first anniversary of the rail route system in the United States. Events such as exhibitions of railroad layouts are organized on the day to celebrate the event.
My Trip to Los AngelesMy participation in National Train Day 2009 would be working at the Depot Inn & Suites table, writing a story and getting my Guest Rewards quadruple points on this date only. I woke up early and after getting ready, drove to the Santa Ana station, parked and walked over to Track 1 to wait for Pacific Surfliner 763.
Pacific Surfliner 763 arrived and I boarded the lower level of the cab car. The conductor took the first of my tickets of the day then at Fullerton, Carole Walker and Tom Anderson joined me for the rest of the trip to Los Angeles, where I detrained and started my picture-taking
Amtrak sleeper 32056 built by Pullman-Standard in 1981.
Pacific Parlor Car 39972 "Napa Valley", ex. Santa Fe 9972, nee Santa Fe high-level buffet-lounge car 577 built by Budd Company in 1956. This and the other four the Amtrak own have been completely refurbished and are currently used exclusively on Amtrak's Coast Starlight train between Los Angeles and Seattle as a lounge for sleeping car passengers. The car features lounge seating, couches, a theater and dining tables inside.
Amtrak diner 38065 built by Bombardier in 1995.
Amtrak lounge car 33032 built by Bombardier in 1994.
Union Pacific Yard 3GS21B 2709 built by National Railway Equipment in 2007.
Amtrak California Pacific Business Class car 6807 built by Alstom in 2001.
Amtrak Operation Lifesaver F59PHI 455 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1998.
Metrolink cab car 635 built by Bombardier in 1997.
Metrolink MP36PH-3C 896 built by Motive Power Industries in 2009.
Overview of the display train on Track 11. I walked over to Track 12 and on the storage track, found Disney's "A Christmas Carol Train" with Amtrak P42DC 157 out in a unique paint scheme.
From a Disney News ReleaseDisney is pulling out all the whistle stops and taking its show on the road with a spectacular immersive and interactive 40-city train tour including a 3D sneak peek of film footage from the upcoming movie “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” it was announced today (05/08/09) by Dick Cook, chairman, The Walt Disney Studios. Set amidst a snowy backdrop—complete with all of the sights and sounds of Christmas including carolers, decorations, giveaways and many more surprises in each of the 40 cities—the Train Tour is being launched with HP on board as the title and technology sponsor and driven by Amtrak. This family event is for guests of all ages and is free to the public.
Starring Jim Carrey and directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” opens in theatres November 6 in Disney Digital 3D™ and in IMAX 3D®.
Commenting on the announcement, Cook said, “‘Disney’s A Christmas Carol’ Train Tour is an incredibly fun way to introduce families across the country to the wonders and spectacle that is Robert Zemeckis’ unique and spectacular new holiday film. We are so proud of the movie, and think the 3D footage is so incredible, we just had to give everyone a chance to see it in Disney Digital 3D. From Los Angeles to New York, and all points in between, guests are going to have a fabulous time discovering things about the making of this extraordinary film, participating in their own festive fantasies, and getting into the holiday spirit all year round. ‘Disney’s A Christmas Carol’ is great entertainment for moviegoers of all ages, and this is the perfect introduction to a fun and exciting new holiday classic.”
Among the highlights of the tour are authentic artifacts on loan from the Charles Dickens Museum of London; artwork, costumes and props from the film; demonstrations of performance capture technology; and a chance to morph your face into one of the film’s characters using HP TouchSmart PCs. At each stop along the way, a state-of-the-art Disney Digital 3D Theatre will be erected, where guests can get a sneak peek of “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and see other exclusive behind-the-scenes materials from the movie. The latest details about tour stops and scheduled events are available at www.christmascaroltraintour.com.
Featuring four custom-designed vintage rail cars full of behind-the-scenes attractions, entertaining demonstrations, and fun activities, the tour will have its inaugural stop at Los Angeles’ Union Station over Memorial Day Weekend, from May 22nd through May 25th. During the next 24 weeks, the train will make 40 stops in 36 states, as it travels its way across more than 16,000 miles of track. The tour will finish at New York’s Grand Central Terminal over the weekend of October 30th through November 1st.
More views of Amtrak 157.
The paint scheme on the locomotive.
PPCX 800702 "Lamberts Point", ex. Friends of 261 "Lamberts Point", exx. Norfolk and Western 4, nee Norfolk and Western coach 200 built by Pullman in 1914.
Mid-America Railcar Leasing 800101, ex. Artrain 101, exx. Amtrak 2836, exxx. Penn Central 4276, nee New York Central 10-6 sleeping car 10136 "Missouri Valley" Built by Budd Company in 1949.
Mid-America Railcar Leasing 800102, ex. Artrain 102, exx. Amtrak 8801, exxx. Penn Central 4611, nee Pennsylvania Railroad kitchen-dormitory 4610 built by Budd Company in 1949.
PPCX 800063 baggage car, ex. Santa Fe "Taos", nee Santa Fe 3680 built by American Car and Foundry in 1955.
My last picture of the Disney train.
Amtrak Thruway Bus. Next I returned to Track 12 and the private railroad cars on display there.
Gulf, Mobile & Ohio heavyweight business car 50, nee Gulf, Mobile and Northern 50 built by American Car and Foundry in 1927. It was assigned the railroad's president, Isaac B. Tigrett and was later owned by his grandson, Isaac Tigrett III and based in New Orleans. Tigrett later sold the car to John Paul DeJoria, head of the Patrón Spirits Company.
"Overland Trail", nee Southern Pacific club-lounge 2981 built by Pullman-Standard in 1949.
PPCX 800636 business car "Scottish Thistle", nee Canadian National 92:5 1994, built by National Steel Copany in 1959. I then walked down to the end of the track to be in position for the arrival of Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751.
Santa Fe 3751 reversed into LAUPT.
Santa Fe 3751 reverseding into the escape track between Tracks 11 and 10.
Santa Fe 4-8-4 3751.
The engineer and conductor. I walked down into the station.
The first interactive display that one saw.
In the south courtyard was a Spanish Amtrak area. I heard music coming from the former ticket area and went to investigate.
Chana was doing a sound check before her morning show.
I would be at the Depot Inn & Suites table working with Steve Grande and Matt Melzer and after our display set up, I went around to see what else was here.
RailPac was next to us on the south.
Foothill Transit.
Metrolink.
California High Speed Rail.
The Orange County N Gauge Club had a layout set up for visitors to enjoy. I then went into the former Harvey House for the first time.
Interior of the Harvey House.
Women in Railroading.
Operation Lifesaver.
Another interactive area for visitors.
Carolwood Pacific Railroad Historical Society.
The Pacific Railroad Society.
California State Parks.
Los Angeles Metro.
Car Free Santa Barbara.
Fillmore and Western Railroad.
Key Holidays Tours.
Anaheim Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Los Angeles Conservancy.
Budget Rental Car.
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.
The Union Pacific display was not yet fully ready.
Union Pacific ready to go.
The fantastic railroad artist J. Craig Thorpe who had a very nice display of his work.
Roy Wojahn of the Orange County Railway Historical Society works at Travelers Aid at LAUPT some weekends.
Amtrak's booth at National Train Day 2009.
The Press table where I was given a National Train Day Express Media & Press Limited Edition booklet.
From 10:30 to 11:30AM, Chana performed for the public during this celebrationy. Matt and I manned the Depot Inn & Suites booth while Steve went for a train ride to Santa Ana so he could get his Guest Rewards quadruple points. We gave out plenty of whistles and La Plata materials to visitors then when Steve returned and I heard music, I went over to see the next performer.
From 1:00 to 2:00 PM, Matt Costa performed. The wind gusts blew over our displays several times during the morning but the afternoon wind was much stronger and we had to take them down. Once that was done, I decided to take Pacific Surfliner 580 home and said goodbye to Steve and Matt before I went over to Track 8B where I boarded the train and the conductor took my ticket for my second Guest Rewards quadruple points. It was a fast trip down to Santa Ana, which ended my National Train Day 2009 experience.
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