SAINT ALBANS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The annual Saint Albans Train Day was a success as many supported local vendors, ate, listened to live music, and learned about the local railroad history.
The event kicked off at 10 AM and concluded at 4 PM on Saturday with food and craft vendors lining the historic brick street of 4th Avenue.
Along with vendors, the historic C&O Railway Saint Albans passenger depot built in 1907 was also open for attendees to explore.
The depot, currently owned by the city, also serves as a satellite location for the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society (COHS) where visitors can find railroad-related merchandise and a model train layout.
President of the COHS Mark Totten says Train Day, sponsored by the Saint Albans Chamber of Commerce, is a great way to learn about local railroad heritage and help the local economy.
“Because of our partnership with the city to showcase this historic building, we’re able to be one of the centerpieces of this annual event that brings so many people to Saint Albans for economic development while celebrating the railroad heritage of this region and western Kanawha County,” Totten said.
Totten says there is something for everyone in the depot from railroad-related books to shirts, memorabilia, toys for the kids, and an operational model train layout.
“In the depot, we have a variety of things to offer for our visitors. Most popularly, we have an O-scale model train layout that is running now and it was recently featured on Traveling West Virginia.”
“We also have books available on railroad history for those that want to go deeper into the subject matter after seeing a little bit firsthand this glimpse into railroad history.”
For those that could not make it to Train Day, the depot is open the first Saturday of every month from 10 AM-2 PM.
And if you can’t make it to the depot, the COHS has a virtual presence online with a Facebook page and a shop for its merchandise and book sales at ChessieShop.com.
