Amtrak Touts National Train Day, Event at Liberty Station Near Lemon Grove

Amtrak, the nation's largest surviving passenger rail service, is touting National Train Day on May 11, 2013, and sponsors near Lemon Grove are promoting a local event to coincide with the celebration.

There will an open house showing S-Gauge model trains at the Liberty Station clubhouse, about 12 miles west of Lemon Grove.

"We will hand out Junior engineer stickers with the National Train Day Logo to children," event organizers said. The event is scheduled 11 a.m. Saturday May 11 at 2445 Truxtun Road, San Diego.

According to Amtrak, May 11 is the sixth annual National Train Day, organized by Amtrak for train enthusiasts in more than 200 communities across the United States to underscore that "trains matter."

National Train Day is an opportunity for people "to gather at their local train stations to share their commitments to train travel and celebrate the ways train connect us all," Amtrak officials said.

Nationwide in 2012, Amtrak served 31.2 million riders, employed 20,000 people, and produced $2 billion in sales, according to Amtrak.

"In addition, the more than 500 stations around the country through which Amtrak serves generated millions in local economic impact," according to Amtrak. "National Train Day celebrates this positive impact in communities across the country by inviting current and future passengers to tour equipment, enjoy family-friendly activities, and hear from local dignitaries."

Amtrak claims it operates 300 daily trains that connect 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces. Amtrak also operates intercity trains in partnership with 15 states and contracts with 13 commuter rail agencies, according to Amtrak.

For more info about National Train Day visit NationalTrainDay.com.

Union Pacific Locomotive No. 844, pictured in the video attached to this report, is not scheduled to be in San Diego for National Train Day. Steam locomotives have visited San Diego recently, including in May 2010.

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