CHICAGO, IL. (Top40 Charts/ Amtrak) - Ultimate classic rock all-star band WORLD CLASSIC ROCKERS - featuring former members of Santana, Journey, Boston, Steppenwolf, Toto, and
Lynyrd Skynyrd - will perform a selection of hits during a free concert at Amtrak
Chicago Union Station May 10th at 2:00 p.m. to help celebrate Amtrak's first annual
National Train Day.
Chicago will play host to one of the four largest National Train Day events, with displays and exhibits promoting the vital role rail has played in the past and will play in the future, including record-breaking current Amtrak ridership and widespread calls for additional passenger rail services.
Already known as one of Chicago's best event venues, the Great Hall will become a 'rock and rail' auditorium that Saturday, with Alex Ligertwood, former member of Santana; Michael Monarch, former member of Steppenwolf; Aynsley Dunbar, former member of Journey; Barry Goudreau, former member of Boston; Randall Hall, former member of Lynyrd Skynyrd; Nick St. Nicholas, former member of Steppenwolf; Fergie Frederiksen, former lead singer of Toto; and Fran Cosmo, former member of Boston.
WORLD CLASSIC ROCKERS are entering their second decade of outstanding performances and bringing audiences to their feet with popular hits such as Born To Be Wild, Sweet Home Alabama, Black Magic Woman, More Than A Feeling, Rosanna, Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) and many more of the greatest rock and roll hits from the 60's, 70's and 80's. For additional information, including biographies and complete set lists, visit wcr.com.
About National Train Day
First announced last month by Amtrak, National Train Day has been picking up speed across the county. Amtrak won a place on TV's Wheel of Fortune, with a 'wrapped' railcar operating daily on the Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha Service trains and including super-sized photos of Pat Sajak and Vanna White, and recently Amtrak announced a sweepstakes in celebration of National Train Day.
Also since the announcement, the theme 'Get Your Choo Choo On' has led dozens of other communities - large and small - to announce events in addition to those in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Washington.
In addition to a performance by the WORLD CLASSIC ROCKERS in Chicago that afternoon, Amtrak will also host a special ceremony to honor the contributions of the legendary Pullman Porters to the nation's railroads. Renowned for their outstanding service, Pullman Porters were hired by railroad entrepreneur George Pullman to work on board his trains.
The date of National Train Day, May 10, holds special meaning as it is the anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah in 1869. At Promontory, the east coast and west coast were connected for the first time by rail. From Promontory in 1869 to the creation of Amtrak in 1970 to the launch of Acela Express in 2000, Amtrak employees across the country will celebrate the history of train travel while looking towards the future on National Train Day.
For more information on National Train Day and planned events, visit NationalTrainDay.com. More event details will be announced as they become available.
