Obama train arrives in Washington

Barack Obama and his family make the historic journey US President-elect Barack Obama has retraced the steps of Abraham Lincoln by travelling from Philadelphia to Washington ahead of his inauguration. His day-long train trip took him through towns and stations packed with cheering supporters. Mr Obama told a crowd in Baltimore that America was facing very serious times. In Washington, he is due to take part in celebrations leading up to his inauguration as the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday. Delaware pick-up The journey began at Philadelphia's 30th Street station, where Mr Obama, a security detail and a media pack boarded the 80-year-old train. Speaking just before he boarded the train for the 137-mile (220 km) journey, Mr Obama said he would be carrying the hopes of ordinary Americans with him on his journey to Washington. OBAMA'S WHISTLE STOP TOUR 17 JANUARY 2009 1005 (1505 GMT) Philadelphia 1300 (1900 GMT) Wilmington 1615 (2115 GMT) Baltimore Diary: Railroad to the White House Woods set to speak at Obama event "Let's make sure this election is not the end of what we do to change America, but just the beginning," he said. "Let's seek a better world in our time." The train made a stop in Wilmington, Delaware, to pick up Vice-President-elect Joe Biden and his family. In Baltimore, Mr Obama recalled the troops at Maryland's Fort McHenry, who had defeated the British during the War of 1812. He said it was "time to take up the cause for which they gave so much". He added: "The trials we face are very different now, but severe in their own right." Late on Saturday the train rolled into Washington's Union Station - only a short walk from the platform where Mr Obama will take the oath of office. Before that a number of events are planned to kick off the celebrations. On Sunday Mr Obama will join several celebrities at an official welcome concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The following day, Monday, is Martin Luther King Day. Mr Obama, Mr Biden and their families will take part in activities in Washington aimed at encouraging others to help their communities. An unprecedented security operation is under way in Washington ahead of the inauguration, with as many as two million people expected to attend on the day itself.