On Saturday, the Connect Dunkirk Committee will be hosting a Get on a Train Day at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds, 1089 Central Ave in Dunkirk. The Boston & Maine Steam Locomotive 444, along with its D&H Boxcar and NYC Caboose, which stands on display year-round at the fairgrounds, will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be no charge to enter and explore inside the engine and its cars. Informative displays can be found inside, and members of the Connect Dunkirk committee will be on hand to assist.

Saturday also is National Train Day, and the Connect Dunkirk committee wants to share with the public the advantages of rail travel, and the efforts that are being made to try to bring a passenger stop to Chautauqua County. In addition to opening the Locomotive to the public, the Connect Dunkirk committee will have a table at the Toy Train Show being held at the same time that day at the fairgrounds. The Toy Train Show is being presented by the TCA Upstate NY Chapter. There is a small admission charge for that show for the general public.

It will be a busy day at the fairgrounds, the Pet Pantry is holding a Mother’s Day Craft Show in Floral Hall Saturday and Sunday as well so in addition to supporting the Pet Pantry in its mission, celebrate National Train Day by getting acquainted with the railroad, a historical and current economical and environmentally friendly mode of travel.