National Train Day 2019 -- May 11, 2019

Happy National Train Day, everyone. I took this photo of Western Pacific GP7 713 at the Sunol depot when we rode the Niles Canyon Railway in August, 2016.

National Train used to be a bigger thing.  Everything is local now.

National Train Day 2015 -- May 9, 2015

Happy National Train Day, everyone.  I took this photo of Dayton, Sutro and Carson Valley locomotive 1, the Joe Douglass, a narrow gauge Porter 0-4-2T, built in 1882.   I took the photos when we visited the Nevada State Railroad Museum in 2011. 

National Train Day 2014 -- May 10, 2014

Happy National Train Day, everyone.  Among the events being celebrated across the country is the 75th birthday of the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal. 

Los Angeles Union Station, now called Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, which opened in 1939, was one of the last union stations built in the United States. We visited it in July, 2011 on our way to Angels Flight. We got off the Gold Line on an open platform. We saw heavy-rail commuter trains on other tracks. The lower levels reminded me of a cleaner version of the old East Bay Terminal. The head house was beautiful, as seen above in this front view. The inside was nice, too. 

National Train Day 2013 -- May 11, 2013

Amtrak started National Train Day in 2008.  Railroads are import to our country and our world.  Anything that raises awareness in a positive way is good.

Visit the National Train Day website to find out about this year's events.

National Train Day #2 -- May 12, 2012

Today is National Train Day:
http://nationaltrainday.com/

I took the photo of McCloud River #18 in July, 2011 when we rode the recently extended Virginia and Truckee from Carson City to Virginia City, where the engine poses. 

Willie Mays 80 #2 -- May 7, 2011

06-May-2011 was the 80th birthday of the greatest baseball player who ever lived, Willie Mays. Last night we went to see the Giants play the Colorado Rockies and honor Willie Mays. When I left the office, I was shocked by the power of the wind. My cap blew off as I crossed Harrison. I found a huge crowd waiting in line at the front gate. I also found that the statue of Mays was wearing an orange party hat. I took this photo.

I walked around the outside of the park, waiting for the booth that sells Muni tickets to open. The line for the main gate extended across the bridge and past the McCovey statue. The line for the gate by the bridge went to the marina. The line for the Second Street gate stretched off down the Embarcadero.

I bought the tickets and had a nice chat about Pacifica with the seller. I went across the bridge and found the end of the line near the gate to the little ball field by the McCovey statue. The line wrapped around the statue, back across the bridge, and up to the front gate. My wife and daughter tried to join me as we passed the Dugout store, but a security guard rudely threw them out. I stayed in line to be sure to get one of the statues the Giants were handing out.

I went up to the Club level and looked at the exhibits. I found our seats, out in the left field corner. When the family made it in, we bought sandwiches and took them to our seats. The cold and the papers blowing around reminded us of Candlestick.

Before the game, the Giants honored Willie Mays on his birthday. Two of his teammates from the Birmingham Black Barons, Jimmy Zapp and the Reverend William Greason, were on the field, along with Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie McCovey. Teammates Felipe Alou and Jimmy Davenport were also there. Lon Simmons read a letter from Monte Irvin. Jon Miller read a letter from President and Mrs Obama. Many people spoke on video, including Hank Aaron, President Bill Clinton, Barry Bonds, John Montefusco, and Bill Cosby, who led us all in a toast to his great friend Willy Brown. Willie Mays cried. I wanted to cry.

In the game, Matt Cain pitched against Ubaldo Jimenez. Cain gave up a home run in the first and two in the third. The Giants weren't hitting at all, scoring only one run through the 7th. They tied it in the 8th and won in the 9th. Brian Wilson got the win.

I felt bad, but we had to leave after the 8th. We took an N car to Powell, and drove home from Fifth and Mission.

Today is National Train Day.

National Train Day -- May 8, 2010

National Train Day is on its third year in 2010: http://www.nationaltrainday.com/