| All aboard! | | | | during the evenings, when the place becomes lively |
| The USA has much more to offer the tourist than | | | | with impromptu parties and poker games. |
| guaranteed sunshine and bargain shopping, and there's | | | | Time to unwind |
| a relatively unknown way to discover what this | | | | The atmosphere on board is invariably relaxed and the |
| country is really all about. Most people think of travelling | | | | modest speed perfect for sightseeing, so this is a |
| by car or plane but you should certainly investigate | | | | great way to explore the landscape and meet the |
| America's wonderful trains - perhaps the last means | | | | natives. You have room to stretch out or walk around |
| of luxury transport available to everyone. The 25,000 | | | | and instead of racing above the clouds you can watch |
| mile Amtrak rail network takes in almost all states, | | | | an entire continent unroll outside the wraparound |
| giving a choice of 500 destinations and access to such | | | | windows. Even occasional glimpses of city backyards |
| tourist essentials as San Francisco, the Rocky | | | | can be fascinating, although trains are scheduled to |
| Mountains and the Grand Canyon. | | | | pass through the less prepossessing areas by night. |
| The Iron Horse | | | | Children are particularly well catered for with games |
| Railroads opened up America more than a century | | | | and other amusements and rarely become bored with |
| ago and some of today's long-distance trains still follow | | | | the thrill of riding the tracks and making new friends. |
| the original pioneering routes. They also use many of | | | | Chance encounters are a vital part of what makes |
| the great stations built during the golden age of | | | | American train journeys such a rewarding experience. |
| passenger travel. An impressive example stands in | | | | One day it may be a group of Italian schoolgirls |
| Washington, DC, decorated in gold leaf and restored to | | | | heading for Niagara Falls, the next it is Australian |
| its original grandeur with dozens of shops, restaurants | | | | backpackers in Texas. US trains are friendly places |
| and a multi-screen cinema. Chicago's Union Station | | | | and you're sure to run into someone interesting. You |
| features a marble and brass waiting room as large as | | | | can learn a lot by sitting next to a Kansas City |
| many a cathedral. It's said that Al Capone used to stop | | | | mortician or a drag artist on her way to entertain the |
| by for his daily shoeshine in the shower room below. | | | | troops in San Diego. Between small towns and big |
| Hotels on wheels | | | | cities you also experience the country's sheer size and |
| US trains are like mobile hotels, boasting gleaming | | | | variety, getting a feel for what this land must have |
| aluminium twin-decked coaches, air-conditioning, | | | | been like before the days of McDonalds and Coca |
| observation cars and uniformed attendants who make | | | | Cola. |
| you feel you have stepped into a 1930s Hollywood | | | | Low prices |
| movie. Reclining seats are thick and soft, with | | | | Best of all, ticket prices are amazingly low and visitors |
| comfortable leg-rests so that you can snooze after a | | | | from overseas benefit from an array of passes that |
| meal or sleep through the night (a good way to save | | | | make this one of the world's great travel bargains. You |
| on hotel bills). Pillows and subdued lighting are provided | | | | can stop off en route as often as you wish and for |
| by the attendant. | | | | any length of time, so given a little planning you should |
| Trains also have traditional sleeping cars with cosy | | | | find a train to take you almost everywhere you want |
| bedrooms ranging from single 'roomettes' to family size | | | | to go, and perhaps to a few places you hadn't |
| affairs for those travelling with children. | | | | expected. It's easy to work out an itinerary that lets |
| Accommodation includes breakfast, lunch and dinner in | | | | you see more of this diverse country in a short time |
| the dining car, as well as complimentary tea or coffee | | | | than is possible any other way. And as the bell clangs |
| and a newspaper delivered each morning. Meals are | | | | and the conductor calls out 'All aboard!' you soon |
| of a high standard, including regional specials such as | | | | discover why the railroad experience is so delightfully |
| freshly caught trout or barbecued spare ribs. Video | | | | addictive. |
| films of recent vintage are shown in the lounge bar | | | | |