Nothing can compare with the comfort of traveling by train. The scene above sounds like something from a black-and-white 1940’s noir film, but it is a scene that still plays out every day all across North America. Despite what many may believe, train travel is alive and well, and a great way to begin a memorable vacation is to take to the rails.

For someone interested in a one-day trip, many tourist railroads operate all throughout the U.S. and Canada. Many of these tourist short lines operate on trackage formerly owned by the major railroads of days gone by. The Pennsylvania Railroad, the New York Central, the Baltimore & Ohio and many other “old-time” railroads may no longer exist, but you can still ride their rails on one of many tourist railroads. While many one-day rail vacations are strictly for scenery, many offer more than just a pretty view. Dinner theater trains and “murder mystery” trains are among the most popular, but nearly every small tourist line has its own unique qualities to make your rail vacation an enjoyable experience.

Steam train excursions are the most common nostalgic trips, and many steam locomotives still operate in limited excursion service throughout the U.S. and Canada. Rail fans of all ages, from the old-timers looking to recapture a bit of their youth to the young children who stare wide-eyed at a steam-belching behemoth from the past, can board a steam excursion and have a real taste of yesteryear.

For those interested in longer trips, many scenic rail vacation packages are available. Amtrak in the United States and VIA Rail in Canada operate regular long-distance passenger trains. People from all over the world travel to Canada for a railroad experience, as traveling across Canada by train is recognized as one of the best train vacations available.

Few things can compare with the experience of long-distance Canadian train trips in terms of beautiful scenery and comfortable, luxurious travel. VIA Rail, for example, offers vacation packages that include not only travel and accommodations but guided tours as well. Trips can be organized based on scenery, special events, lifestyles, wine tours…. the possibilities are endless.

For those most interested in a beautiful scenic trip, nothing beats a train vacation through the Canadian Rockies. Rockies Rail Experience offers weeklong steam train excursions via such locations as Banff and Crowsnest, and a “Rockies Rail Round Trip” steam excursion that includes locations such as Lake Louise, the Rockies, Icefields Parkway, Lethbridge and The Prairies. The Rocky Mountaineer offers similar trips, including trips through Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies, and the near-nationwide Trans-Canada Adventure.

For those more interested in relaxing in the fine accommodations that only rail travel can provide, the crown jewel of vacations is a trip on the Royal Canadian Pacific Luxury Train, recognized as “the finest luxury rail tour in the world.” Weeklong trips are luxuriously appointed, including comfortable suites, dining car and lounge car facilities and a staff that is always eager to please. For the sportsmen, Canadian Pacific even offers a 6-day Royal Fly-Fishing Adventure, where travel through the majestic Rockies is accompanied by fishing trips in the mountain streams of Canada.

Whether you are taking a day trip, a long trip or simply a nostalgia trip, treat yourself to a memorable experience, and take your vacation by rail.

After that Persian visitor departed from New York City, he traveled up to Boston, and from there to New England and Canada. His route was almost the same as the route taken by the Good Morning in America crew back in 2008. In fact, this short visitor traveled even further than the members of that crew. Chicago was one stop on his train ride.

Vacation plans used to place people on a train. The long ago visitor mentioned in a 21st Century blog did not, however, arrive in the United States as someone on vacation. Neither did he come here in order to promote a book, although he did list his occupation as “author” on the manifest of the ship that brought him to America’s shores.

So why did that visitor endure the trials then associated with train travel? Did he hope to share with others a tale about using a sleeping compartment to on a train? No, in fact, this unusual man chose to sleep in his train seat. He never paid to use the train’s sleeping quarters. While traveling in that upright position, he completed a speaking tour of the continental United States.

Now it is interesting to note the absence from this speaking tour of a stop in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. That is where a number of Amish people live. Those peace loving people share many of the beliefs espoused by the turbaned man who used a train to travel across the United States.

Today in Lancaster, a number of tourists choose to expand the itinerary for their vacation. They find that the can not resist the appeal of the Lancaster countryside, and so they include some unexpected train travel in their vacation. They board the train that carries them through the Lancaster countryside. They marvel at the Amish carriages and at the Amish farmers, clad in a simple black outfit.

Has any Amish resident of Lancaster County ever taken a train travel vacation? Perhaps they have. In the movie Witness, an Amish mother and her son travel by train to Philadelphia. They were planning to visit with relatives. Unfortunately, they never managed to complete their anticipated vacation.