Photo courtesy of the Port of Long Beach.

Over the weekend, some 3,000 people showed up for the inaugural day of free train tours organized by the Port of Long Beach.

Designed to give the public a more in-depth look at how $155 billion worth of cargo moves through the port each year, the tours were entirely sold out as onlookers examined port operations with hosted guides.

“We’re reaching out with our rail tours to show the community how important the rail system is to the Port’s ability to generate jobs and to reduce air pollution,” Port Executive Director J. Christopher Lytle said. “With the overwhelming response to this event, we hope to try it again in the future.”

The as of yet one-time event was coordinated with the port’s short-line railroad, the Pacific Harbor Line, and Metrolink.