Any suggestions for a great scenic train ride... I'm cool with flying in and out of different cities to make the most scenic ride. Love it to be at the very least 4 hrs.

Darn that search is not working, there was a great thread about trains recently!

Orient express. Amtrak Zephyr from Denver to Sacramento through the Rockies and Sierra Nevada.

Hi,

Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge round trip from Durango to Silverton, Colorado. Wonderful!

How about the Cumbres & Toltec Narrow Gage from either Chama, NM or Antonito, CO. One of the best Narrow Gage & great scenery.

I agree with the above suggestions. In addition, the Rocky Mountaineer from Jasper or Calgary to Vancouver (all daylight); the Skeena by Via Rail from Jasper, AB to Prince Rupert, BC (also all daylight); Alaska RR from Anchorage to Seward; White Pass & Yukon RR in Skagway, AK; and the Cuyahoga Scenic RR south of Cleveland.

Copper Canyon in NW Mexico.

I second the train ride in Copper Canyon Mexico. Do a search for Copper Canyon and you'll find the info you need.

I love trains and some of my favourite stretches of N. American rail include:

My top two (so far) are on the CALIFORNIA ZEPHYR train:

While you could do what I did and go from Chicago --> SF (sleeper recommended if you do this), the parts that blew my mind were:

Denver-->Glenwood Springs or Grand Junction, CO
Emeryville (SF area)--> Reno

Edmonton --> Vancouver
Toronto --> Winnipeg
(sleeper recommended for both these legs; first is mountainous, more rugged... second is mostly boreal wilderness with lots of lakes/rivers, loved both (or you could bite the bullet and go all the way like I did from Toronto -->Vancouver; even the Prairies I enjoyed for what they are)

New York City --> Albany
Albany --> Plattsburg

DC --> Pittsburgh
Charny (Quebec City area) -->Halifax (treat yourself and go Easterly class (sleeper) for dome car access, where a learning coordinator tells you about Maritime Canada)

Have fun deciding! DAN

What a great idea for a thread, vabarone! And you have already gotten some great suggestions. I will definitely follow this thread.

BTW, Don, you named all of my suggestions. ;-)

BayouGal: You know what they say about great minds thinking alike!

The northbound Coast Starlight out of LA to the south bay area. Mostly follows the CA coast from Ventura to San Luis Obispo. Passes thought Vanderburg AFB and Santa Barbara.

I like the idea of Chicago to San Fran... specifically chicago to denver. My question is it looks like most of the trip is over night. Are there any midwest scenics rides that are maybe 12hrs... all daylight?

Chicago-->Denver was light until about mid-Iowa in the summer; Chicago-->mid-Iowa was not terribly scenic, although I found the landscape very relaxing... I woke up about an hour or so east of Denver (I slept through Nebraska or so they tell me...). If this ride interests you, just stay several hours more on that train to Glenwood Springs CO; you'll be glad you did.

Sorry no other midwest train suggestions at this time... DAN


DAN

All of the west-bound long distance trains from Chicago depart between 1:45p to 3:15p. So, each will give you some hours of daylight. They will give passengers great view of the Rockies a day later.

I don't know what "midwest scenic rides" that you're thinking about.

I second the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver--but it takes two days with an overnight. If you do it, spring for the dome car.
The White Pass & Yukon in AK was also splendid.
Have only seen shows, but the American Orient Express looks like a nice trip through America's parks.