Train and history buffs will make more than a whistle stop in Akron this weekend.
The Northeast Ohio Historic Passenger Rail Conference will include field trips, lectures and exhibits over three days, said David H. Mangold, interim president of the Passenger Train Historical Society.
The conference begins Friday at Quaker Square Station, 135 S. Broadway in Akron, where from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. guests can view multiple model train displays and hear lectures on such topics as passenger trains, Civil War railroads, canals and historical passenger cars. A similar schedule is planned for 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The suggested donation for Friday’s program at Quaker Station is $5. Lecture topics include “The Ohio & Erie Canal,” “The Lincoln Inaugural Train,” “Civil War Railroads” and “The History of Quaker Square.”
Saturday’s program during the day at Quaker Station is free to view the train displays but $50 for lectures ($25 for students). Topics include Akron railroads, the Northern Ohio Traction & Light Co., Erie/Erie Lackawanna Railroad passenger service and Cleveland transportation history.
An additional program will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday at Parma Memorial Hall, 6611 Ridge Road. Participants can watch a free slide show about local railroads.
One of the weekend’s highlight events will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at Quaker Station: a reception and buffet dinner featuring food taken from the menus of railroad dining cars. Cost is $50 for adults and $40 for students.
On Sunday, participants will go on railroad-related field trips in the area.
For more information, call 330-819-3423, email NEOHPRC@neo.rr.com or go to www.pthsonline.org.
