Railroads were as important as the Red River in the development of Shreveport. The City was a train hub, once home to an astounding three passenger rail depots and one freight depot- all within roughly 15 blocks in downtown. Railroads carried the people and goods that helped create the city we have today, and trains still roll through downtown multiple times each day loaded with the goods that make America work.
On Sunday, May 15, from noon- 4 pm, the Shreveport Railroad Museum/Shreveport Water Works Museum at 142 North Common Street is going to be the place for all things trains and train-related. Celebrate National Train Day with an afternoon of train talk, railroad memorabilia, food trucks, magic, live music and museum tours. The event, sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority, Shreveport Railroad and Shreveport Water Works Museums and Twin Blends Photography, LLC, is free and open to all who love trains, and who want to know more about Shreveport’s remarkable railroading history.
Enjoy a meal or snack from a variety of food trucks including Taylor’D Eatz, Downsouth Dogs and Frios Pops (more coming!) as well as live music and magic shows by Doc Garner’s Sidewalk Sideshow! Look over local railroading artifacts, and peruse beautiful railroad photographs taken by Warren Caileff. Purchase your very own Railroad Museum tee-shirt, and enjoy tours of the museums and watch the HO model railroad as it winds through ‘downtown Shreveport.’
ALL ABOARD FOR THE FUN & KNOWLEDGE!
At 12:30, make your way to the air-conditioned Ozone Room for a series of talks, all free.
12:30 pm: Mike & Mark Mangham – Twin Blends, Photography, LLC – What they do & how they do it, plus a drone demonstration outside.
1:15 pm: Bishop Taylor-Louisiana Rail Productions. Are you interested in taking videos of trains? Bishop will tell you how!
1:45 pm: Warren Caileff – Photographer. Want to take great railroad photographs? Warren will give you some pointers and tell you how he got some of his remarkable photos.
2:15 pm: Dillon Stokes – Union Pacific Engineer. A Day in the Life of a Locomotive Engineer, plus, what it takes to become one!
2:45 pm: Larry Davis – Railroad Historian & Collector. Start collecting Railroadiana
3:15 pm: Don Kimmel – Operation Lifesaver. Learn how Operation Lifesaver works with railroads to save lives.
Admission to Train Day is free and all ages are welcome as are well-behaved dogs on leashes. The only parking on the museum site is for Handicapped-placarded vehicles, all others should park across North Common Street in the marked areas. Wait at your car for iShuttle, which will be picking up and dropping off throughout the day.
