Amtrak is celebrating 40 years by bringing an exhibit train to locations around the country. It will be at Meridian's Union Station this weekend.

The train features displays of old menus, uniforms, and other Amtrak items.

Activities featuring the children's television show 'Chuggington Depot' will also be on site. All events are free to the public.

This exhibit train has made stops in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Dallas. Officials say the fact that the train is stopping here is something for the city of Meridian to celebrate.

"We're fortunate. Meridian has worked well with Amtrak over the years," said Mark Naylor, director of parks and recreation. "They help us out with our annual Rail Fest, and this is a big Amtrak town with our station here. And we are fortunate, because it's not going to be in any other city in Mississippi, Alabama, or Georgia."

The train will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days,. The railroad museum adjacent to Union Station will also be open.

"And what it actually is, it will be pulled in by two older engines that Amtrak used back in the 70s and 80s that have been refurbed," Naylor said. "And three baggage cars behind that have been turned into a rolling museum. They'll enter in one car and walk through all three of them and out the back end. And there will be pictures, photos, old menus that used to be served on the train, the uniforms that maybe they wore, and a lot of the history."

The best part is everything is free.

"We'd like to see people come out, first of all, and support Amtrak. Amtrak is a viable way of transportation in this country," said Naylor. "One of these days, maybe we'll have high speed rail. And they've been good to bring this at no charge. It's free to the city as well as the citizens that come out, and I think they'll enjoy it. Bring the kids; it's history, yet some of them have never been near the train."