(Source: Amtrak press release (PDF), December 5, 2011)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As America’s Railroad, Amtrak has connected families for 40 years during the holiday season and is honored to take part in another holiday tradition by providing one of the model trains that are operating beneath the National Christmas Tree. It symbolizes and highlights the important role Amtrak plays in the nation’s transportation network.
Amtrak worked with the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, and the National Christmas Tree Railroad, to have its model train circle the 26-ft. evergreen located at President’s Park just south of the White House.
The model Amtrak train is a G scale (1:22.5) and includes two GE Genesis P42 diesel locomotives and four single-level Amfleet passenger cars plus a café car. It represents Amtrak’s Midwest Corridor service, as well as the Northeast Regional service south of Washington, D.C. where the trains operate using this type of equipment. It will be on display through Jan. 1, 2012.
In addition, Amtrak is partnering with Washington Union Station and MTH Electric Trains to bring the new Holiday Train Show to the Main and West Halls of the historic station. The display features O gauge trains from the steam and modern eras and includes F40 diesel locomotives and Amfleet passenger cars representing Amtrak corridor trains from the 1990s. It will be on display through Jan. 2, 2012.
Also, Amtrak is offering exclusive HO scale model trains in Heritage paint schemes to celebrate its 40th anniversary, including 15 limited-run models only available aboard the Amtrak Exhibit Train or online at the Amtrak Store, many of which are available for holiday gift giving.