Comments on: Best train rides in the U.S. and abroad http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/ travel culture worldwide Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carol Music http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-99039 Carol Music Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:03:00 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-99039 My only addition would not be about the RR, since I've never traveled abroad, but that a music group has taken that name "Trans-Siberian Orchestra" and they are awesome. I'm envious of all of you who have been blessed to travel on trains anywhere! My choice, if I was given one who have to be the Scotland trip. I have enough Scottish ancestry that it is what I love the most and identify with - give me a beautiful Scottish plaid design and a good bagpiper anytime! My only addition would not be about the RR, since I’ve never traveled abroad, but that a music group has taken that name “Trans-Siberian Orchestra” and they are awesome. I’m envious of all of you who have been blessed to travel on trains anywhere! My choice, if I was given one who have to be the Scotland trip. I have enough Scottish ancestry that it is what I love the most and identify with – give me a beautiful Scottish plaid design and a good bagpiper anytime!

]]> By: Carol Music http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-99040 Carol Music Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:03:00 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-99040 My only addition would not be about the RR, since I've never traveled abroad, but that a music group has taken that name "Trans-Siberian Orchestra" and they are awesome. I'm envious of all of you who have been blessed to travel on trains anywhere! My choice, if I was given one who have to be the Scotland trip. I have enough Scottish ancestry that it is what I love the most and identify with - give me a beautiful Scottish plaid design and a good bagpiper anytime! My only addition would not be about the RR, since I’ve never traveled abroad, but that a music group has taken that name “Trans-Siberian Orchestra” and they are awesome. I’m envious of all of you who have been blessed to travel on trains anywhere! My choice, if I was given one who have to be the Scotland trip. I have enough Scottish ancestry that it is what I love the most and identify with – give me a beautiful Scottish plaid design and a good bagpiper anytime!

]]> By: Carol Music http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-99036 Carol Music Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-99036 The only RR trip I would add it the one Alaskan one from Anchorage to Fairbanks. It is lovelier and longer that the one from Anchorage to Whittier. And Whittier has little to see, so most people take the train, walk around a bit and then take it back to Anchorage. When we lived there in the 80's it was just a train track. Now they have also made it a highway, so tourists or locals have a choice of how to travel to Whittier. I once took the adults with developmental disabilities from Anchorage to Whittier, where we caught the ferry to Valdez and then 'road-tripped' back to Anchorage! All the vehicles were loaded onto flatcars - butt to face so to speak. We were in a large 9 passenger van and were placed just behind a tourist bus. This trip takes you through 2-4 tunnels (can't remember the exact amount). The bus driver left the engine running the entire trip, which nearly asphyxiated all of us and we were at the mercy of the Gods so to speak! We did survived but arrived with nausea and headaches, where the clear air of the ocean at Whittier quickly brought about our recovery. I spoke to the bus driver and his 'excuse' was that he wanted to keep the AC going on the trip! I also spoke to someone from the train and told him what had happened and that the RR would have had a helluva law suit on their hands IF anyone had suffered permanent injury. Thank God no one did! I like to think someone was more thoughtful about where they placed vehicles after that though! The only RR trip I would add it the one Alaskan one from Anchorage to Fairbanks. It is lovelier and longer that the one from Anchorage to Whittier. And Whittier has little to see, so most people take the train, walk around a bit and then take it back to Anchorage. When we lived there in the 80′s it was just a train track. Now they have also made it a highway, so tourists or locals have a choice of how to travel to Whittier. I once took the adults with developmental disabilities from Anchorage to Whittier, where we caught the ferry to Valdez and then ‘road-tripped’ back to Anchorage! All the vehicles were loaded onto flatcars – butt to face so to speak. We were in a large 9 passenger van and were placed just behind a tourist bus. This trip takes you through 2-4 tunnels (can’t remember the exact amount). The bus driver left the engine running the entire trip, which nearly asphyxiated

all of us and we were at the mercy of the Gods so to speak! We did survived but arrived with nausea and headaches, where the clear air of the ocean at Whittier quickly brought about our recovery. I spoke to the bus driver and his ‘excuse’ was that he wanted to keep the AC going on the trip! I also spoke to someone from the train and told him what had happened and that the RR would have had a helluva law suit on their hands IF anyone had suffered permanent injury. Thank God no one did! I like to think someone was more thoughtful about where they placed vehicles after that though!

]]> By: Global Postmark http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-7377 Global Postmark Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:12:39 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-7377 Two beautiful scenic railways: Flåmsbana railway in Norway - part of the Norway in a Nutshell Tour. Kuranda Scenic Railway - near Cairns in Queensland, Australia. Both are tourist trains, but they are short journeys with beautiful scenery, as opposed to cross-country treks. Unless you have unlimited time, I really can't recommend Amtrak, due to the extensive delays. I don't have enough patience for long-distance train travel. Two beautiful scenic railways:

Flåmsbana railway in Norway – part of the Norway in a Nutshell Tour.
Kuranda Scenic Railway – near Cairns in Queensland, Australia.

Both are tourist trains, but they are short journeys with beautiful scenery, as opposed to cross-country treks.

Unless you have unlimited time, I really can’t recommend Amtrak, due to the extensive delays. I don’t have enough patience for long-distance train travel.

]]> By: eakeith http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-7148 eakeith Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:46:27 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-7148 Great to see an article about North American train travel. Coming from the Canadian prairies, it seems like passenger trains are almost a non-existent concept on this continent. Glad to hear there are some very exciting options for cross-country travel! Great to see an article about North American train travel. Coming from the Canadian prairies, it seems like passenger trains are almost a non-existent concept on this continent. Glad to hear there are some very exciting options for cross-country travel!

]]> By: Matt Scott http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-7106 Matt Scott Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:32:36 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-7106 Great piece, when it comes to trains it often is more about the journey than the destination. The Trans Sib is one of my favourite journeys of all time. Great piece, when it comes to trains it often is more about the journey than the destination. The Trans Sib is one of my favourite journeys of all time.

]]> By: Scott http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-7095 Scott Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:02:27 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-7095 The Coast Starlight - Seattle to San Diego - has always been a favorite of mine. Leaves Portland mid-afternoon, into the mountains of Oregon at dusk/nightfall, then into the Bay area at sunrise. Takes you into places along the central California coast that can't be seen unless you're on the train. Saw whales breeching just offshore near the town of surf. Rolls into Santa Barbara in time for a margarita at the beach. In '85 I took a train in China from Suzhou to Urumqi. Four nights along the Silk Road. Through the Turpan Depression. Plenty of places to get off and take a look around. The Coast Starlight – Seattle to San Diego – has always been a favorite of mine. Leaves Portland mid-afternoon, into the mountains of Oregon at dusk/nightfall, then into the Bay area at sunrise. Takes you into places along the central California coast that can’t be seen unless you’re on the train. Saw whales breeching just offshore near the town of surf. Rolls into Santa Barbara in time for a margarita at the beach.

In ’85 I took a train in China from Suzhou to Urumqi. Four nights along the Silk Road. Through the Turpan Depression. Plenty of places to get off and take a look around.

]]> By: Traveler http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-7094 Traveler Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:15:30 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-7094 The Trans-Siberian is absolutely the best train ride. So many wonders of the nature, picturesque villages and towns and wonderful panoramic views can't be seen anywhere else. The Trans-Siberian is absolutely the best train ride. So many wonders of the nature, picturesque villages and towns and wonderful panoramic views can’t be seen anywhere else.

]]> By: Spencer Spellman http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-6299 Spencer Spellman Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:39:45 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-6299 The Great Smokey ride was AWESOME. I did a half day ride and wound around the mountains along the Nantahala River and stopped at the Nantahala Gorge for lunch. Make sure you get the first class car though, so you get snacks and drinks The Great Smokey ride was AWESOME. I did a half day ride and wound around the mountains along the Nantahala River and stopped at the Nantahala Gorge for lunch. Make sure you get the first class car though, so you get snacks and drinks

]]> By: Nancy http://matadornetwork.com/trips/best-train-rides-in-the-u-s-and-abroad/#comment-7081 Nancy Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:14:28 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=9555#comment-7081 The Trans-Siberian is still high up on my bucket list. I had no idea about the Great Smoky Mountains Railway and I'm from NC. Sweet! The Trans-Siberian is still high up on my bucket list. I had no idea about the Great Smoky Mountains Railway and I’m from NC. Sweet!

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