Photo by Bill Green People from all over the U.S. arrived early at the Brunswick station to board trains to Washington for Barack Obama's inauguration.

The Brunswick Train Station is normally crowded with commuters taking the Maryland Area Rail Commuter trains each weekday, but today's passengers were looking for a convenient way to and from the presidential inaugural festivities.

At 6 a.m., it was standing room only inside the little waiting room as passengers gathered before boarding the day's second train bound for Union Station, just a few blocks from the National Mall. Families, couples, students, older people, people of various ethnic backgrounds all came clutching memorabilia commemorating the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Angela Fulbright organized a trip for 50 students and a dozen teachers from a Dallas high school. Fulbright, who teaches advanced placement government and economics, said she began organizing the trip after Obama's election in November.

"We've been working on all sorts of presidential projects," she said. "This is the culmination."

"This has touched every learning style," said fellow teacher Tonnea Williams.

"Words can't even describe the excitement," said assistant principal Terrell Brown.

The group did not have inaugural tickets, but wanted to be in the crowd on the Mall.

William Davis, and his 6-year-old daughter Tristen, of Sinking Spring, Pa., were among the lucky inaugural ticket holders. They left their home at 3 a.m. and arrived in Brunswick at 5 for the 6:30 a.m. train.

"I figured it would be easier to come here than to get to Camden Yards (in Baltimore)," Davis said. "Mom's got the easy duty. She's home sleeping and watching the dogs."

William and Tristen Davis toured the White House in the spring, and he suggested they go to the inauguration. Two days before the election, he requested tickets from his congressman. "They were first-come, first-serve."

The pair were ready for a day in the cold, with a sleeping bag, lots of sweaters and food. Tristen agreed to leave her teddy bear behind, in the car.

Liz Otte and Sarah Goth spent Monday night near Lovettsville, Va. Their group, 9 students and one professor from Hanover College in Indiana, planned to stand on the Mall and soak in the excitement. "I want to see people dancing and celebrating," Otte said. "We had a huge discussion last night about what we're hoping to see" from the Obama administration.

They planned to return to Brunswick this evening, and drive back to Indiana through the night, arriving in time for an 8 a.m. class Wednesday.

Todd and Judy Bolton, of Smithsburg, had no trouble getting tickets to President Clinton's 1993 and 1997 inaugurations. Todd simply called the office of former U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes. "This is much different," Todd Bolton said. "I think this is the most incredible thing in our lifetime in terms of vision and the ability to bring Americans together."

Hassan Jones came from Rochester, N.Y., with his wife and children, his sister and his mother-in-law. The family met Obama at a rally in April, and decided to go to the Mall, even though they did not have tickets. "It's just to be a part of it, to witness it," Jones said. He is a middle school principal, and has visited Washington before with his students.

His mother-in-law, Ernestine Appling, was attending her first inauguration. "I met Obama. I shook his hand," she said. Despite the cold, the energy made the air feel warm. "I'm already feeling it. The excitement is already there."

Janet Hayes, of Falling Waters, W.Va., and Roxanne Wilson, of Germantown, had inaugural tickets. Friends through meetup.com, they were planning to meet three others for the festivities.

"We'll be within eyesight of Obama," Hayes said.

MARC train officials said passengers came from as far away as Alaska. Train operations went smoothly this morning, they said.