Amtrak's Capitol Limited train in West Virginia. Photo by John Mueller, via Flickr.

Here’s the news release from Metro:

On National Train Day Saturday, May 7, Metro will join Amtrak in celebrating the history of trains in the United States at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. The free event will include many attractions for children and their families.

It’s easy to get to Union Station via Metro. Just take the Metro Red/Purple Line, Gold Line or local buses. Not only is it convenient; you’ll save money on gas and parking. The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. and last until 4 p.m.

Kids can attend the AmtraKids Depot where they’ll spend time engaging in arts and crafts and enjoy live entertainment from Radio Disney. Exhibits will include model trains, train equipment displays, archived photos, stories about how the Chinese contributed to the development of the railroads during the 19^th century, presentations on the history of the 21 California Missions and Amtrak K-9 unit demonstrations. Visitors also will learn about the evolution of dining on trains and watch cooking demonstrations.

National Train Day commemorates completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, as well as Amtrak’s 40th birthday. Metro is observing National Train Day as a reminder to the public about the advantages of using public transportation.

To learn more about this event go to nationaltrainday.com or pick up a Metro Monthly brochure in a bus or train. To find out how to get there via Metro visit metro.net and click on the Trip Planner.