Local exhibit expands for National Train Day

5/4/2013

An expanded number of train exhibits is part of this year’s National Train Day at Toledo’s Martin Luther King, Jr., Plaza, which is open to the public today.

Along with an Amtrak train open for touring, Norfolk Southern and the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway are providing exhibit locomotives, and two private passenger cars also will be on display. Equipment used for railroad fire safety and hazardous materials training will be present at the Toledo depot.

The local National Train Day observance began Friday with a reception at the depot sponsored by the Northwest Ohio Passenger Rail Association.

All of the events today, starting with an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m., are free and open to the public, with a free shuttle between the station and the nearby Owens Corning headquarters parking lot.

Besides the equipment exhibits, the depot’s three levels all will have special displays and activities. The ground-floor station will have art displays, train-travel raffles, and Amtrak information. The second floor will feature Engineer Steve’s entertaining and educational youth program about railroads and safety near the tracks.

On the third floor, the Grand Lobby will host operating model-train layouts, music, food, and vendors.

Scheduled speakers during the opening ceremony include Robert J. Stewart, chairman of the National Association of Railroad Passengers in Washington; Rick Harnish, director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, and Derrick James, Amtrak’s senior government affairs officer. All exhibits and activities conclude at 4 p.m.