Friday, May 4, 2012

National Train Day, Saturday May 12th, 2012



The Milwaukee Railroad Historic Shops and Railroad museum will be combining two events into one spectacular day. We are the feature attraction closing up a week long celebration as Sioux City Historic Preservation Week wraps up and we are once again joining the National celebration of National Train Day.

National Train Day marks the 143rd anniversary of the creation of the nation's first transcontinental railroad. On May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the 'golden spike' was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, forever transforming the face and character of America. Special celebrations have been planned by Amtrak at many of its stations across the country as well as hundreds of additional railroad focused museums, tourism trains and historic sights. We are also lucky enough to be celebrating Sioux City Historic Preservation Week at the same time. This year’s theme is “Sioux City – It All Started Downtown”. In keeping with this theme we have built a new exhibit in the Machine/Blacksmith Shop called the “Downtown Sioux City Railroads Exhibit” featuring blueprints, photos and more highlighting downtown Sioux City during the railroad heydays of the early 1900’s.

Things to see and do!

• Hours: 10 am – 4 pm

• Admission: FREE

• Outside Exhibition of 4-6-2 steam locomotive Great Northern #1355 built in 1909

• Motor Car Rides: $2 each for kids 5 to 105 years old
                            $1 each for kids 2-5 years old

• Grand Opening: Machine/Blacksmith Shop – Downtown Sioux City Railroads Exhibit

• Grand Opening: Roundhouse Bay 1 (north end) – SHRA Preservation Gallery

• 2 PM in the new Downtown Sioux City Railroads Exhibit - Dr. Rudy Daniels will be giving a talk about downtown Sioux City rail services.

• Popcorn and Beverages will be available for purchase

* The Tri-State Crankers will have vintage cars parked on the grass around the turntable.

• Try our ALL NEW self-guided walking tour book for a new in-depth look around the complex. Cost is only $3 each. Also, $1 of each book sold goes directly to the building restoration fund so you can help us continue to make this complex a must see attraction.

• See the amazing progress in the restoration of the 75 ft x 15 ft HO scale Nebraska Central Model Railroad in the Railroad Civil Engineering Display Hall. Currently operating 4 trains on large continuous loops.

• Experience the 30 acres of this railroad locomotive and rolling stock servicing and repair center. Built in 1917 and employing over 500 people at the peak of its operations.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience this one of a kind historic district and railroad museum. It’s a well kept Sioux City secret ……. So don’t be left behind!

For more information about the Roundhouse complex visit our web site at: www.milwaukeerailroadshops.org

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