USA by Rail

plus Canada's main routes

John Pitt

• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781784774936
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Travel

This ninth edition of Bradt's USA by Rail guidebook has been fully revised and expanded to take account of changes to Amtrak routes and services, plus the latest Amtrak and VIA Rail pass details, and features over 500 destinations, including Disney World, the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. With 25 long-distance train journeys across the United States and a further 12 in Canada, plus sightseeing highlights for 38 major cities, accommodation options from cheap to chic and everything you need to find your way around unfamiliar train stations, this book has all the practical information required to make the most of a rail pass. There are maps, route plans and photographs, up-to-date security and immigration information, plus vital tips for sightseeing, local transport and accommodation, as well as chapters on VIA Rail, the Rocky Mountaineer and other trains in Canada. The book also includes a history of North American railroads, current steam train operators, tourist railways and museums, as well as sound advice for the visitor from overseas. Hundreds of Internet contacts make it easy to plan and make reservations for any trip you desire.

The grandeur of America's scenery - from its never-ending prairies, the Joshua trees of the Mojave Desert and the saw-toothed peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the pounding surf of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans - is one of the continent's greatest attractions and there is no better way to enjoy it than by train.

Written by an expert author who has travelled around 80, 000 miles by train in North America in the last 25 years, Bradt's USA by Rail is the essential companion for a successful trip.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Contents
• The Essential
• Colour Map
• List of Maps
• Photos – Don’t Miss
• Introduction
• At a Glance
• Part One General Information
• Chapter 1 From Horsepower to Amtrak
• Chapter 2 Train Practicalities
• Chapter 3 Practical Information
• Part Two Trains And Routes In The United States
• Chapter 4 The Coast Starlight Seattle–Los Angeles
• Chapter 5 The California Zephyr Chicago–Emeryville (for San Francisco)
• Chapter 6 The San Joaquin San Francisco–Bakersfield(via Emeryville/Oakland)
• Chapter 7 The Pacific Surfliner Los Angeles–San Diego
• Chapter 8 The Empire Builder Chicago–Seattle
• Chapter 9 The Empire Builder Spokane–Portland
• Chapter 10 The Southwest Chief Chicago–Los Angeles
• Chapter 11 The Sunset Limited New Orleans–Los Angeles
• Chapter 12 The Texas Eagle Chicago–San Antonio (for Los Angeles)
• Chapter 13 The City of New Orleans Chicago–New Orleans
• Chapter 14 The Northeast Corridor Boston–Washington, DC
• Chapter 15 The Northeast Corridor New Haven–Springfield (for Boston)
• Chapter 16 The Crescent New York–New Orleans
• Chapter 17 The Silver Star New York–Miami
• Chapter 18 The Silver Meteor New York–Miami
• Chapter 19 The Northeast Corridor Boston–Newport News
• Chapter 20 The Cardinal New York–Chicago
• Chapter 21 The Adirondack New York–Montreal
• Chapter 22 The Vermonter Washington, DC–St Albans (for Montreal)
• Chapter 23 The Lake Shore Limited Boston/New York–Chicago
• Chapter 24 The Capitol Limited Washington, DC–Chicago
• Chapter 25 The Pennsylvanian New York–Pittsburgh
• Chapter 26 The Maple Leaf New York–Toronto
• Chapter 27 The Wolverine Chicago–Pontiac
• Chapter 28 Other Amtrak Trains
• Chapter 29 US Steam Today
• Part Three On Canadian Rails
• Chapter 30 Canada’s Trains Today
• Appendix 1 Useful Addresses
• Appendix 2 Ticketing Agents
• Appendix 3 Further Information
• Author
• Copyright
• Acknowledgements
• Back Cover