Eastern Railroad Discussion > Annual Ashland VA Train Day/Sat. Nov. 10

The 10th Annual Ashland, Virginia TRAIN DAY festival is taking place THIS coming Saturday, November 10:

http://ashlandtrainday.com/

From one of those "behind the scenes" persons helping run the festivities comes word that "...the Town of Ashland was fortunate enough to win a grant from CSX for $10,000 to go towards Train Day. [They will be thanking] the President of CSX who will be in town. [Ashland, Va.] and the organizing group of Market Ashland Partnership have created a short 20 minute documentary that highlights CSX's relationship with Ashland, [and there is a planned showing of the documentary] at 10:30 a.m. when [CSX President, Michael Ward] is visiting the [downtown] Firehouse Theater."

Soon after this presentation, another will begin, also in the Firehouse Theater (1 block west of the CSX [RF&P] mainline), about the pair of mile-long Ringling Bros.' Circus Trains, presented by none other than Yours Truly (this presentation will highlight the 1-hr., 56-min. documentary "CIRCUS TRAIN ADVENTURE" which was filmed during the early 2000s by the late LANE VERNARDOS, whos son, Kevin, was the Blue Unit's Ringmaster. The entire film was shot aboard the mile-long RBBB Blue Unit, mostly riding the vestibule all over North America. Lane Vernardos, who sadly passed on this past December 2011, had been a long-time CBS News producer; his son has expressed enthusiasm for this public presentation of his dad's DVD, and word is already spreading of both Michael Ward's visit to the 2012 Ashland Train Day festival AND the showing of the DVD "CIRCUS TRAIN ADVENTURE."

Ashland, Virginia traces its origin back to when the town first began "life" as a resort location created by the Richmond, Fredericsburg & Potomac Railroad. RF&P began in 1834.... Come on out and visit us this Saturday, and while you are there, take in the sights and sounds of mainline railroading, as CSX's north-south mainline runs right through the middle of town!

2012 ASHLAND TRAIN DAY Activities include:

Railroad folk music and songs
A locomotive moon bounce
Two miniture children's train rides
Free cookies and cider
Model trains all over everywhere. Wooden, Lego and electric.
Railroad memorbillia
Organizational displays
CSX and Amtrak trains all day right out front
2012 Special Guest - MICHAEL WARD, Pres. and CEO of CSX Transportation



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/07/12 15:22 by rbx551985.

(No word has come down as to how Mr. Ward will be arriving in the Ashland, Va. area for the festival -- although it is hoped he'll arrive by CSXT's Executive Train consist....)

....to CLARIFY things just a little.

One little correction (posted by Ashland residents in charge of the event): "....the event is sponsored by Ashland Main Street Association, AMSA. MAP, or Ashland Market Partnership is sort of a town-wide economic development business group while AMSA is more of a economic development group for the "main streets" of Ashland, [the] old town area so to speak. [They] have both groups though here in town.

The fellow from CSX who got [them] the 10K grant is Quintin Kendall, a state government affairs VP for CSX. Unfortunately he will not be able to attend, so a fill in is coming for him [perhaps NOT specifically Michael Ward after all], and [they haven't been informed of who this will be]. Once [they] know his name, [they'll] let [us] know...."