All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm
October 21, 2015
DENVER — Members of the Rocky Mountain Division/Train Collectors Association got a surprise earlier this month at Amtrak’s Train Day. Inside Presidential Car No. 10001 parked at Union Station was the passenger railroad’s chief and CEO, Joe Boardman.
Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman (left) and Rocky Mountain Train Show executive director Jim Marski.
“The highlight of the event was finding out that Amtrak Presidential Car 10001 was also at the station with Amtrak’s president,” said Jim Marski, executive director of the division’s annual train shows in March and December. “I had a nice chat with Joe about the car and working for the road, and received a tour of the car.”
About 2,500 people showed up for Denver’s event at the newly refurbished Union Station. In addition to touring the exhibit train, guests took in the Amtrak Experience, Chuggington Station and a number of vendor booths. The Amtrak Experience provides interactive settings that allow visitors to experience Amtrak train travel.
Boardman was on hand as Amtrak made one of its final Train Day stops for 2015. He and other executives arrived on No. 10001, which hauls Amtrak brass on business and promotional trips across its system.
According to Amtrak by the Numbers (White River Productions, 2008), No. 10001was built as a standard 84-seat coach in December 1976 and numbered 21222. In May 1984 it was renumbered 10001 after being rebuilt for company service.
This year marked the first that Amtrak changed its single-day program format to a series of Train Days running from May through October. Since 2008, the event, which promotes passenger travel and celebrates the history of trains with activities and exhibits, has been limited to multiple celebrations across the country in May.
This year’s celebrations – which included several in May – totaled 178 events in various locations, including 12 exhibit train stops. The Amtrak exhibit train was created to celebrate Amtrak’s 40th anniversary in 2011 and includes displays on Amtrak’s history, operations and future. A number of items were for sale, including clothing, pins and an HO-scale Amtrak diesel that is only available on the train.
A few days after the Denver stop, the exhibit train visited Grand Junction, CO. This year’s final destination is Nov. 7 in Florence, SC.
The Rocky Mountain Division/TCA was on hand recruiting members and promoting its upcoming Rocky Mountain Train Show.
The group had a 10’ x 20’ exhibit that included an operating S-gauge layout, a display of passenger trains and timetables from all the railroads that operated into Union Station, and some Denver railroad memorabilia.
“The purpose of the display was to promote the hobby, our organization and the Rocky Mountain Train Show,” Marski said.
The second show of 2015 is Dec. 12-13 at the Denver Mart.
