Written for both veterans and those considering their first rail journey, this guide is an expansive resource for train travel and the broader world of rail transit. Bridging the past with the present, the handbook explores the origins of the rail systems, the monumental task of building America's first trans-continental railroad, passenger and freight railroad operations, and the differences between the various lines. The new edition includes updated information on ticketing procedures, routes, Amtrak's simplified fare structures, and the explosion of railroad-related data such as schedules and ticket purchase options available on the internet. In addition to offering time-tested advice on finding the lowest fares, avoiding pitfalls, packing for an overnight trip, when to board, and whom to tip and how much, the reference presents a number of rail itineraries--from day trips to see the colors of the fall season to lengthy journeys that will take more adventurous travelers around the entire country. A perspective on high-speed lines--such as proposed links between Los Angeles and San Francisco and Chicago to St. Louis--envisions the future of rail transportation. It's about the journey, not the destination. All Aboard--first published in 1995, and here completely revised and updated--is much more than just a mile-by-mile scenery guide for train travelers.

Written both for veteran train travelers and those considering their first rail journey, it will make any trip smoother and more enjoyable with its insightful travel trips and information about how railroads operate. With trains attracting new riders in record numbers because of the economy, the price of gasoline, and the delays and crowding that are now the norm when traveling by air, the time is perfect for a new edition ofAll Aboard. Here you can learn how and why the first railroads came about, the building of America's trans-continental railroad, and how individual trains are operated. The author also offers advice that can only come from a veteran traveler: booking trips, finding the lowest fares, avoiding pitfalls, packing for an overnight trip, what to do on board, whom to tip and how much.All Aboardis the ultimate guide to American train travel and its unique history and culture.