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Well, I've never been to one of these before and, since I've nothing better to do tomorrow, I plan to scoot down there for a few hours.
Going from Deland to Tampa down and back on the Silver Star.
Anyone from this forum going to be there?
smitty195 Member # 5102
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I'll be curious to see what you find down there. Looking forward to hearing about it.
I'm not attending any NTD stuff this year. There is a great race on this afternoon at Darlington, and I really don't wanna miss it.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I'll be about as close to Train Day festivities as I will be to those for NATO.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Visited the first annual NTD at the recently enlarged station in Cary, NC today.
It was a moderate success I thought.... a model railroad club had a small modular display inside, NARP, the NC Train Hosts, and a regional consortium which has been lobbying for light rail and commuter rail for the Raleigh/Durham area for at least 15 years now had information booths.
For the kids there were coloring books and a Thomas play table. One artist was doing face painting and a swashbuckling buccaneer made balloons into parrots. I entered the drawing for a free trip for a family of four by train within the easter United States and bought a sandwich for my daughter from the Chik-fil-a booth.
While we were there, Piedmont #75 en route Raleigh to Charlotte made it's station stop and a huge crowd of 60-70 passengers swarmed aboard. Most of them were parents with kids who appeared to have ridden to Cary for the NTD event earlier in the day on #80 from places such as Charlotte, High Point, Greensboro, and Durham.
After #75 whistled off, I overheard one young father asking the train host at the sweepstakes table if there "would be another 'train demonstration' like the one we had just seen." Train host says "well, the next passenger train is due at 3:00pm."
All-in-all, I would have had more fun actually going on a short train ride rather than hanging out at the NTD event but my schedule wouldn't permit such today. In terms of getting a crowd of prospective first time Amtrak riders down to the station however, I'd say Cary's event was a roaring success.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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OK, now I can say "been there, done that" when the subject of National Train Day comes up.
Some thoughts:
1. Very impressed with the Amtrak Police K-9 demonstration. A contingent of handlers came down with their dogs and put on a show for the crowd. They're on the N/B Autotrain right now, their next assignment.
2. I expected there to be a lot of "foamers," and I wasn't disappointed. There were, however, a surprising number of "locals" who came out for the attractions (food trucks, static displays, informational kiosks, etc.).
3. I couldn't get over the fact that 6-yo kids of both sexes can sit down at one of those "train simulators," and "drive" trains across the country in all kinds of weather. I'm having trouble getting my fingers to post this!
As far as the trip on the Star goes, it was quite uneventful. Apropos of a discussion about on-board upgrades, either here or at another site, I overheard a quite inebriated gentleman in the lounge car being quoted a "take it or leave it" price of $214 for a roommette upgrade for one, Kissimmee to NYP. I believe he "left it." $214 buys a lot of Buds.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Though that $214 goes further at the corner 7-11 than it does in the Amcafe!
Train Granny Member # 30118
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quote:Originally posted by notelvis: In terms of getting a crowd of prospective first time Amtrak riders down to the station however, I'd say Cary's event was a roaring success.
Is this one of the purposes of National Train Day? I really don't have a clue, but it seems that it would be!
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Train Granny:
quote:Originally posted by notelvis: In terms of getting a crowd of prospective first time Amtrak riders down to the station however, I'd say Cary's event was a roaring success.
Is this one of the purposes of National Train Day? I really don't have a clue, but it seems that it would be!
Oh yes, without question. National Train Day is one of the better ideas Amtrak Marketing has come up with. Timing it on or about the anniversary of the 1st transcontinental railroad's completion May 10, 1869, while not neccessarily a stroke of genius, was pretty darn clever.
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