by Beatrice Tello on 2013-11-20
Kids participated in train-themed activities, crafts, games and snacks during the “All Aboard!” Train Day at the Luque Community Center on Nov. 13, while learning more about Colton's rich history and how the railroad industry impacted, influenced and shaped the city.
Thomas Robles, the Senior Recreation Leader who headed the event, kicked off the festivities by encouraging the children to talk to him about trains. Robles gave the children background information about the city of Colton and taught them about Colton’s nickname, “Hub City.”
Colton was established in 1875 and was known as the "hub" of all things railroad-related, Robles explained. Until recently, Colton was home to the Colton Crossing, one of the busiest railroad crossings in the country installed in 1882 by the California Southern Railroad to cross the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. Colton was known as the only city in California with a railroad that traveled both north to Canada and south to Mexico, explained Robles. Because of its crucial role in the railroad industry, Colton has also been recognized and awarded Union Pacific's "Train Town USA."
Recreation Coordinator Kelly Phelps taught the kids train safety with a presentation. Phelps reviewed the three "E’s" of train safety: education, engineering, and enforcement. Phelps explained to children that the Luque Center was applying the first E, by educating the children on how to be safe around the train tracks that are so prominent in Colton. Children also learned the signs, symbols and colors of the railroad crossings.
Children also learned about the various parts of a train while coloring and decorating a miniature train crafted from cardboard and colorful construction paper. Children later posed in the train for pictures while sporting the conductor hats they made after listening to the safety presentation.
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Date: November 13
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Luque Community Center
Address: 292 East O Street, Colton, CA 92324
Did you know Colton was one of a few cities to be awarded Union Pacific's "Train Town USA"? Colton has rich history with the railroad. In fact, the railroad company founded the town site of Colton in 1875, and Colton residents have literally grown up around the trains and still do. So come out and have a good time this day with train themed activities, crafts, & more.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
Kids had a blast with train themed activities, crafts, games, and snacks during the “All Aboard!” Train Day at the Luque Community Center. Children were able to play games and enjoy themselves, while learning more about the rich history of Colton and its unique relationship to trains.
Thomas Robles, the Senior Recreation Leader in charge of the event, kicked off the festivities by encouraging the children to talk to him about trains. Robles gave the children a little bit of background information about the city of Colton and he was also able to teach them Colton’s nickname, “hub city”. The railroad company founded the town site of Colton in 1875 and Colton became this center or “hub” of all things railroad related. Colton also was located where two transcontinental railroads came together, and it was the only town in California that had a railroad that went to Canada and Mexico. Because of its crucial role in the railroad industry, Colton has also been recognized and awarded Union Pacific's "Train Town USA".
The kids also learned about train safety from Recreation Coordinator Kelly Phelps, who was able to give a fun and informative presentation to the kids. She taught them the three E’s of train safety: education, engineering, and enforcement. The Luque Center was applying the first E, by educating the children on how to be safe around the train tracks that are so prominent in Colton. They also learned the signs, symbols, and colors for the railroad crossings.
Children also got to learn different parts of the train while coloring and decorating a miniature train that was crafted from cardboard and colorful construction paper. They later posed in the train for pictures while sporting their conductor hats that they made after listening to the safety presentation.
After an afternoon of games, snacks, and crafts, the children were able to walk away with more information about trains and their critical contribution to the city of Colton.