National Train Day celebration set May 10 in Lewes

Lewes Junction Railroad & Bridge Association will hold is third National Train Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, May 10, at the Lewes Junction railroad exhibit next to the Lewes Public Library.

The annual event commemorates the final connection of the Transcontinental Railroad from west to east when the last spike was driven into the track in 1869.

Inside the library, two invited speakers will present educational programs in the conference room. At 10:15 a.m., Dr. Ray Glick will speak about the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. At 11:30 a.m., David McDonald will discuss the effects of the railroad on tourism.

Throughout the day, Shoreline Model Railroad Club representatives will delight children and adults with their model train exhibit in the children's library, while Delmarva Model Railroad Club members offer a digital slide presentation in the lobby.

The celebration moves outside at 12:15 p.m. to the railroad exhibit, where the newest addition to Lewes Junction – a Pennsylvania Railroad slope-back coal tender – will be christened by Lewes Mayor-elect Amy Marasco. The tender eventually will be connected to Pennsylvania Railroad's #60 steam locomotive currently undergoing restoration.

Outside at 12:30 p.m., Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, will take the first mallet swing to drive the third golden railroad spike into the track at Lewes Junction in remembrance of the original event at Promontory, Utah. Attendees are invited to take part to finish hammering the golden spike into the track.

The iconic Pennsylvania Railroad 1917 red caboose is also available for touring throughout the celebration. To learn more, go to lewesjunctionrr.org.