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Just about every day is Train Day to the 240 or so members of the Arizona Railway Museum.
However, the group is planning on letting the rest of us in on the fun Saturday as it celebrates Amtrak’s National Train Day with extended hours and special events at the museum at 330 E. Ryan Road (just east of Arizona Avenue) in Chandler.
Chandler residents will have three ways to commemorate the day, which celebrates the 140th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
In addition to activities at the Railway Museum, residents can ride the miniature railroad at Desert Breeze Park at 660 N. Desert Breeze Blvd. in west Chandler from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. or check out the history kiosk at Espee Park (named for the phonetic pronunciation of the initials of the nearby Southern Pacific Railroad) at 450 E. Knox Road.
If you’re looking to see a variety of historic railroad pieces up close, the Arizona Railway Museum is the place to be. The museum will be open from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m. Saturday.
“We’re one of the few museums that actually allows some of the kids to climb on some of the equipment,” museum docent Mark Redmond said. “We actually have a one-of-a-kind caboose that kids can see what it’s like to get up in the cupola. We’re going to have several cars that are open that normally would not be open.”
Museum members are working feverishly to spruce up some pieces of equipment to show off to the public Saturday.
They’re going to offer a chance to tour the “Federal,” a 1911 Pullman business car that is the oldest certified Amtrak railcar in the country. The car has played host to two United States presidents and was used by Adlai Stevenson during his unsuccessful 1956 run for the presidency.
Visitors will also get a chance to tour the cab of a Baldwin steam locomotive and even blow the horn.
There is the possibility of caboose rides, provided the engines used to pull those cars feel like cooperating Saturday.
“We’re always looking for more volunteers,” Redmond said, “especially anyone with a mechanical background. Our poor little engines require so much TLC.”
For information about National Train Day or the Arizona Railway Museum:
