- Saturday and Sunday, September 17 & 18, 2016, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Admission: $5/person (Ages 4 and under free)
- Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
- On site: Quick Dog Catering & Scoops Gourmet Ice Cream Truck
Los Altos, CA – Train Days returns to the Los Altos History Museum for two days of train-filled fun celebrating the joy and wonder of model railroading. Elaborate layouts, intricate scenery, and scaled renditions of prototypes and whimsical engines and theme cars complete with steam, lights and sound, will speed the rails to delight visitors of all ages. Explore the gauges and scales associated with model railroading as private collectors and clubs showcase and field questions about the mechanics and electronics of their trains and layouts and the history behind the locomotives and railroads that inspired them.
Participants include:
- Live Steamers from the Bay Area Garden Railway Society
- Diablo Pacific Short Line
- Golden Gate Lionel Railroad Club
- Golden State Toy Train Operators
- Peninsula NTRAK and AsiaNRail
- National Model Railroad Association
- Private Collector: LEGO Layout
Joining the above is: California Operation Lifesaver, who will provide education on proper rail safety and the US Park Service Trails & Rails Program, Train Days’ glitter tattoo station and its train-themed marketplace will also be in full gear, and Quick Dog and Scoops will be serving up hot dogs, burgers and ice cream to keep train patrons well-fed throughout the day!
“We’re pleased to bring visitors something new every year”, says event chair Kristen Fuller. “This year we welcome the Golden Gate Toy Train Operators, who will display an interactive layout displaying vintage toy trains of three different gauges, S, O and HO and invite visitors to control some of the switches and accessories.”
Trains are integral to America’s and our local history. For over 150 years rail service has been transporting passengers along the Peninsula. In 1907 Southern Pacific put Los Altos on the map with its steam railway connecting Palo Alto to Los Gatos. Mirroring railroad development through the years, you’ll see the transition from early steam locomotives to diesel engines up through electric and high-speed passenger trains—all scaled in miniature. Whether you’re new to model railroading or have been an enthusiast for years, come join the fun and see why it is one of the most beloved hobbies around the world.
Train Days is brought to you by the Los Altos History Museum, dedicated to preserving and sharing local history to enrich our community and to shape a more informed future. Both the Museum and J. Gilbert Smith House are located on one of the last active apricot orchards in the Santa Clara Valley. The 1905 shingled farmhouse was built with many Craftsman-style features was our first museum, opened in 1977. In the spring of 2001, the Los Altos History Museum opened in a modern, impressive three-level, 8,200-square-foot building, built entirely with private donations. Ownership was transferred to the City of Los Altos in 2002.
The Museum and J. Gilbert Smith House are open Thursday through Sunday, from noon-4pm. The gardens, outdoor agricultural exhibits and picnic area are accessible beyond Museum hours. For more information, go to www.losaltoshistory.org, email hello@losaltoshistory.org, or phone 650.948.9427 x14.
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Media Contact: Karen Purtich, Marketing@losaltoshistory.org
Los Altos History Museum: Laura Bajuk, ED, 650-948-9427 x10, lbajuk@losaltoshistory.org
