March 25, 2017 - TRA Newswire -

Members of the National Association of Railroad Passengers Houston and San Antonio chapters will host a Flatonia Pavillion Party on Saturday April 1 with a day of train watching, food and informal rail advocacy.

The event will start around 10:00am in the covered pavilion at the intersection of Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe main line tracks on the west side of downtown Flatonia. The town is halfway between Houston and San Antonio. Spotting favorite types of freight cars and locomotives as trains go by will be the primary activity of the day.

Many experienced guests will be on hand to help with identifications. Members of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) chapters in Houston and San Antonio will be in attendance, as will be special guest Peter LeCody, NARP Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Attendees are asked to bring their own chairs and give a $10 donation for a cookout being prepared and served around noon. Reservations are requested so quantities can be estimated (Dan Pugh, southtexas1@att.net).

Flatonia is the proposed site for an Amtrak Passenger Station half way between Houston and San Antonio. Town, regional officials and advocates have been working for several years to get the necessary approvals for a station and needed infrastructure for a train stop.

Two hotels and two cafes are available in Flatonia for those staying over in this classic small Texas town. A train museum is also available downtown on the square.