California; Train Festival

Train History Trail

LOS ANGELES — Get ready to learn, experience and celebrate all things rail at the much-anticipated Los Angeles Union Station Train Festival 2023: A Celebration of Past, This event is slated for Sept. 9-10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., treating visitors to railroad equipment tours and displays. Information booths, music, giveaways, eateries, amenities, and ShopLAUS will also be featured.

From the world-renowned Steam Locomotive Santa Fe 3751 of the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society (SBRHS), which pulled the first named passenger train into Los Angeles Union Station in 1939, to modern day passenger and freight equipment, attendees will be able to walk through rail history and witness the technological advances spanning more than 100 years. Featured displays will include Amtrak passenger equipment, a BNSF Railway freight locomotive and the Southern California Railway Museum’s Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF) 5704 diesel, which was one of five locomotives painted in a patriotic red, white, and blue scheme to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the United States.

In Union Station’s Ticket Concourse, guests can immerse themselves in five masterfully constructed and uniquely designed model train displays created by some of the premiere model train clubs in Southern California. Don’t miss Southern California Traction Club’s incredible Downtown Streetcar Display featuring a highly detailed HO scale downtown scene.

Celebrate architecture, arts and culture through group and self-guided tours of the station facilitated by partners from California Preservation Foundation (CPF), Los Angeles Conservancy (LAC) and Metro Art. Angelenos. Learn about its impact as an architectural marvel, historic landmark, Hollywood film location favorite and buzzy hub for those traveling around, to or from Los Angeles.

Gain valuable knowledge of transportation services offered at the Metro, Amtrak and Metrolink information booths. A key highlight of the two day event will include Train Festival 2023 commemorative TAP Cards with a day’s worth of free Metro fare loaded onto each card given as a surprise and delight to attendees at designated times each day. Subject to availability.

Los Angeles Union Station, along with its presenting and exhibit partners, is excited to celebrate the extensive legacy and promising future of rail in Southern California and welcomes all to join in these oneof-a-kind festivities. For more information, visit unionstationla.com.

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