Sac History Happenings: Celebrate National Train Day and Mother's Day at Railtown 1897

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

May 7, 2012

Celebrate National Train Day and Mother's Day at Railtown 1897

It's a double-header celebration at Railtown this weekend.

The Park will observe National Train Day with excursion rides aboard Caboose No. 7 that's pulled by steam locomotive Sierra No.3. Guests will also be treated to special one-day-only tours of the Roundhouse and Shops and will see the No. 28 and 34 locomotives, vintage track maintenance vehicles and the custom construction car built for the Hetch Hetchy Dam.

On Mother's Day, moms who take the Sierra No. 3 excursion ride will receive a complimentary commemorative Belgian chocolate bar. And children will get complimentary balloons. The 40-minute train ride will passengers through six miles of beautiful Gold Country hills and meadows which are still festooned with spring wildflowers. Families are encouraged to share a picnic lunch on the Roundhouse lawn.

Train tickets for both days may be purchased in advance or at the Park starting 10 a.m. on the day of the ride.

What: National Train Day!
Where: Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Jamestown
When: May 12
Cost: Park admission: $5 adults, $3 for youths ages 6-17, free for children 5 and under. Train rides: $13 adults, $6 youths ages 6-17, free for children 5 and under
For more info: 209-984-3953 or visit www.railtown1897.org or www.nationaltrainday.com

What: Steam-Powered Excursion Train Rides on Mother's Day!
Where: Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Jamestown
When: May 13. Trains depart hourly from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: $13 adults, $6 youths ages 6-17, free for children 5 and under (includes Park admission)
For more info: 209-984-3953 or visit www.railtown1897.org

PHOTO CREDIT: George Sapp, lead restoration worker at Railtown 1897 State Historical Park, stands before "movie star" locomotive Sierra No. 3. 2010 Sacramento Bee photograph by Michael Allen Jones

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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