Forty Years...and Counting!
We’ve designed this site to provide details of our anniversary celebration, to tell our story. I hope you will take a few minutes to browse our timeline and peruse some of the interesting items in our archives.
We also have an interesting selection of 40th Anniversary related items in the Amtrak store, including our new book, Amtrak: An American Story. Our book chronicles Amtrak’s four decades of history and was written by current and former Amtrak employees. It tells the story of Amtrak and the American passenger train in unforgettable terms, and complements that story with a gorgeous selection of truly memorable pictures.
We will kick off our celebration in May, and you’ll be hearing a lot about our anniversary at this year’s National Day Train events on May 7. This year’s National Train Day —our fourth —will include events at our stations in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles to celebrate the history and tradition of America’s railroads. In addition, there will be hundreds of local events in communities across the country honoring the American railroad. You can learn more about National Train Day at nationaltrainday.com.
After its public debut at the National Train Day event in Washington, D.C., our special 40th anniversary exhibit train comprised of restored equipment and customized display cars, will embark on a yearlong, cross-country journey. Showcasing Amtrak’s history for our employees and the communities we serve, it will visit Northeastern communities throughout the summer before turning west on a great rail voyage across the continent.
The exhibit train and the anniversary events are the result of extra hours and personal effort put in by the dedicated men and women of Amtrak. They are a reflection of our desire to create homegrown celebrations that are put on by employees and for employees, while sharing our heritage and outlook with the communities we serve. You can follow the train’s journey and get more information about planned visits to your community, as well as historical information, on this website.
This train gives us an opportunity to tell our story, and it’s symbolic of the can-do spirit that has kept Amtrak going over the past forty years. It tells a great story about the great people who have supported this company and who continue to do so – from within and without. Come out and help us celebrate 40 years of passenger rail service.
Check back frequently for updates on the exhibit train and other 40th Anniversary Celebration. We hope to see you on the rails soon!
Joseph H. Boardman
President and Chief Executive Officer
