Volunteer Railroaders Association
80 Royal Avenue
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
Phone 973-238-0555
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24,2008
Contact: K.C. Smith
E-mail: volunteerra@yahoo.com
THE VOLUNTEER RAILROADERS ASSOCIATION JOINS AMTRAK TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL TRAIN DAY
Open House Planned at Hawthorne Station May 10th.
Hawthorne, NJ May 10, 2008 – To raise awareness of the vital role rail plays in our nation’s transportation system, and to support a movement that is aligned with its mission, The Volunteer Railroaders Association announced today that it will join Amtrak in celebrating the first annual National Train Day on Saturday, May 10, 2008.
“The VRA is very involved in many railroad related projects and we felt that this one would be a great way to promote not only railroads but also our effort to preserve and restore the historic Hawthorne train station ” said K.C. Smith, chairman of the project for VRA.
“All of our events will take place in and around the station”, which sits on the corner of Diamond Bridge and Royal Avenue’s in down town Hawthorne. We are planning a day full of things to do and see.” The station will be open from 10AM to 4PM to the public, who can look at the historic railroad displays or browse through their new Joseph K. Weber Railroad Library, named in honor of their late founding member. Outside the station will be a display of railroad motorcars, once used by railroads for track maintenance. In addition a hobo camp, G-gauge model railroad and a display of diesel locomotive horns will be set up. “We hope that families from all over the area will stop by and enjoy the day” said Smith.
“We are very pleased to have the Volunteer Railroaders Association join the National Train Day celebration,” said David Lim, Amtrak’s chief marketing officer. “Trains are an important part of life in New Jersey now as they have been for over 100 years. It is great to have the VRA aboard.”
Serving as national spokesperson for National Train Day is television personality Al Roker. Mr. Roker will experience, first-hand, the benefits of rail travel when he travels from New York to Washington, by train, for the day’s festivities at Washington’s Union Station.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of Amtrak’s National Train Day because as a native New Yorker, I can attest to the vital role trains play in our everyday lives,” Roker said. Whether it’s a quick business trip or a leisurely vacation, the train is a great way to get there.”
Heritage and Future
The date of National Train Day, May 10, holds special meaning, as it is the anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869. At Promontory, the east coast and west coast were connected for the first time by rail. From Promontory in 1869 to the creation of Amtrak in 1970 to the launch of Acela Express in 2000, Amtrak employees across the country will celebrate the history of train travel while looking towards the future on National Train Day. For more information on National Train Day and planned events, visit NationalTrainDay.com. Event details will be announced as they become available.
About the Volunteer Railroaders Association
The VRA was started in 1993 as the Susquehanna Volunteer Association, to serve as car hosts on the NYS&W’s steam trains. “We changed our name to the VRA in 1997 to better reflect what we are all about. Over the last 15 years we have done so much to help preserve railroad history, and we are looking forward to the next 15” said Smith. In addition to their work on the Hawthorne train station, the VRA also runs Santa and Easter Bunny trains and is working on a Fall Foliage train ride planned for October 5th. Add to that their involvement in the creation of a New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center and the operation of railroad motorcars and you can see why their slogan says “So close to railroading… Only the paycheck is missing”. To find out more about the VRA and the many activities they run, please visit them on-line at www.vratrips.org. or better yet stop by the Hawthorne Station on May 10th between 10AM and 4PM for a first hand look.
About Amtrak
Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit www.amtrak.com.
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