Calgary Alberta - Loud whistles and the deep chug rumbling in the belly of a steaming locomotive marks the beginning of Railway Days, one of Heritage Park's biggest events of the year.
 
Barb Munro, communication specialist at Heritage Park Historical Village, said whether you're a train enthusiast or just looking for something fun to do with the family, Railway Days has everything from free train rides to learning "the secret language of the hobo."
 
Munro said one of the neatest events happening is learning how to send and receive a telegraph in real time.
 
"We realized we have lines connecting to three different stations, and this year we can actually send telegraphs," Munro explained.
 
"Sending telegraphs is how people communicated 100-years-ago, and it's really where texting originated. It's a very interesting glimpse into a piece of history that's almost gone."
 
Another cool activity is deciphering how those once known as "vagabonds" communicated to one other as they traversed the country hidden in the bowels of an unsuspecting train.
 
"Hobos used to have symbols they'd carve into fences as they rode the rails," Munro said.
 
"Some symbols would indicate that this place would feed you, others would warn you not to stop here."
 
Other railway activities happening over the weekend include rare opportunities to tour inside the park's steam engine cab and witness the railway turntable in action, model train displays, photography contests, and a chance to be an "Engineer for a Day" are some of the many activities happening over the weekend.
 
Railways Day will be held at Heritage Park Sept. 24 and 25 Sep 2016 from 10:00 to 17:00.
 
Anna Brooks.

To learn more open this article about Heritage Park.