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Topic: OBAMA SET TO RIDE RAILS TO HISTORIC INAUGERATION

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OBAMA SET TO RIDE RAILS TO HISTORIC INAUGERATION

(CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama looks to President Abraham Lincoln for his inspiration, so it's only fitting that the president-elect would retrace Lincoln's 1861 trip from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. to assume the presidency. Obama will appear Saturday at an town hall meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, around 10 a.m. before boarding the train for its 137-mile journey.

The train will take its first "slow roll" in Claymont, Delaware, meaning the president-elect will wave at residents gathered near the tracks. Claymont is also the town where Vice President-elect Joe Biden's family moved in 1953 when he was 10 years old.

The train arrives in Wilmington, Delaware, to pick up Biden and his family. Obama and Biden are also expected to make brief speeches before embarking again.

The next "slow roll" is expected to be in Edgewood, Maryland, located 25 miles northeast of Baltimore.

The whistle-stop tour then stops in Baltimore before reaching its final destination: Washington, where Obama will head to Blair House, his temporary homeSecurity for Obama's train ride will be tight.

Law enforcement from 40 jurisdictions will provide protection from the ground. The U.S. Coast Guard will be stationed at different points throughout the waterways to ensure the president-elect's safety.

The Federal Aviation Administration is establishing "moving" flight restrictions that will prevent private pilots, news helicopters, balloonists and others from getting anywhere near the train.

FAA spokesman Paul Takemoto said flights will be restricted from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday in Philadelphia, and move with the train.

The FAA is imposing additional airspace restrictions in Washington on Sunday during pre-inaugural activities, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the day of the inauguration

Nearly 2 million people are expected to hit the streets of Washington on January 20. Police will shut bridges across the Potomac River into the city, along with a huge chunk of downtown.

Two of the major routes coming into the city -- Interstates 395 and 66 -- will be closed to inbound traffic, at least for private vehicles.

All bridges between Virginia and Washington will be closed. Those coming from Virginia will have to walk or take public transport, such as the metro area's subway system.

Amtrak says it has increased the number and length of trains running to Washington on Inauguration Day. Tickets are still available, but are going fast, it says.

Security officials also say charter buses, taxis and car services are an option for those attending.

There are several obvious items that are prohibited, according to the U.S. Secret Service, including: "Firearms, ammunition, explosives, weapons of any kind, aerosols, supports for signs and placards, packages, coolers, thermal or glass containers, backpacks, bags exceeding size restrictions, laser pointers, animals other than helper/guide dogs, structures, bicycles and any other items determined to be a potential safety hazard."

Items surrendered to security officials will not be returned. Other banned items include baby strollers and umbrellas.

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