TEMPLE, Texas — All aboard!
The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum is gearing up to celebrate Nation Train Day on May 4 with a special event.
The museum will celebrate Train Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 4. Attendees will reportedly have the chance to ride on the Speeder Cars that run on the tracks behind the museum, take photos, eat hot dogs, view model train displays and more!
“I love this event because whether you are a train enthusiast or just interested in history, Train Day has something for everyone,” said Natalie Alvara, Director of Libraries and Museums. “We hope our fun activities allow families to discover more about railroad history while also making memories.”
City of Temple Public Relations Coordinator Megan Price said National Train Day commemorates the completion of the transcontinental railroad project with the placement of the golden spike in Promontory, Utah. Price said the holiday was started by Amtrak in 2008 to raise awareness of the benefits of rail travel and celebrate the history of trains in America.
Price said the event will also help celebrate Temple's rich history with the railroad. Price said Temple Junction was created on June 29, 1881, as three major railways, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway, pushed north from Galveston.
157 business lots and 28 residential lots were sold, said Price, forming the new settlement, which would be named in honor of the Santa Fe Railway's chief engineer Bernard Moore Temple. Price said trains have continued to play a vital role in Temple's history and development over the years.
“We take great pride in celebrating the railroad that helped build our City,” said Alvara. “Without the railroad, Temple would be a very different city today, if it would exist at all.”
Tickets for the Train Day event are reportedly $5, with children 2 and under being admitted for free. Tickets can be purchased at this link.
More information on the Railroad & Heritage Museum can be found at this link.
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