On 28 February 1827, the first commercial passenger train started operating in the United States. 200 years later, it is the perfect time to travel the country by train and discover the landscape from a unique point of view.
Many travellers who are exploring the U.S. tend to do so by car or by plane, but there is another unique option worth considering. As the American passenger railway is celebrating its 200th anniversary, the nation’s destination marketing organisation Brand USA is inviting everyone to discover the country through the window of a train.
“Rail is where America’s travel story began, and 200 years later, the romance of the rails endures. The 2027 bicentennial is a timely invitation for travellers to slow down, look out the window, and take in the unique beauty of the USA mile by mile. There’s no better year to let the tracks lead the way,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of Brand USA.
Cover some distance
Due to the size of the country, the U.S. offers a vast selection of long-distance train routes, which are a great alternative to the never-ending highways. Instead of having to concentrate on the road, travellers can simply sit back and relax while taking in the astonishing landscapes.
Long-distance Amtrak routes are some of the country’s most famous railroad options. The California Zephyr travels between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, crossing the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada along the way, while the Coast Starlight connects Seattle and Los Angeles on a journey through the Pacific Northwest and California. Farther north, the Empire Builder travels between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, stopping at Glacier National Park and following a route through plains, mountains and landscapes that underscore the enormous geographic scale of the country.
Even the famous Route 66 has a railroad alternative, albeit not an exact copy of the original. The rail itinerary can parallel portions of the historic Route 66 corridor, granting a different take on the quintessential American road trip. Beginning in Chicago, travellers can use Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to travel west through Mother Road communities and into the Southwestern desert, forest and city landscapes. In New Mexico, a stop in Albuquerque introduces visitors to Southwestern architecture, cuisine and culture before the tracks continue toward Arizona. Here, Flagstaff provides a gateway to the Grand Canyon, before the journey eventually reaches Los Angeles.
From historic to contemporary
For history train buffs, there’s no better moment to visit the U.S. by rail than 2027. The country still operates a variety of historic routes and locomotives. For example, in Colorado and the surrounding Mountain West, historic trains travel through rugged mountain scenery, traversing the former mining regions that originally made rail connections so important. And Pennsylvania‘s Strasburg Rail Road operates in one of the country’s oldest railroad regions, while West Virginia‘s Cass Scenic Railroad carries passengers into the Appalachian Mountains on tracks once associated with the logging industry.
Those who’d like to take their knowledge one step further can also visit some of the country’s best museums and former railway buildings. Baltimore, Maryland provides a natural starting point during the 200th-anniversary year, as the city played a foundational role in American railroad history through its Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The city’s National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation (formerly the B&O Railroad Museum) preserves one of the country’s most significant collections of railroad artefacts and historic equipment. Bicentennial exhibitions and programming in 2027 afford additional opportunities to explore the story where much of it began.
Yet although historic trains are interesting, sometimes, comfort is what it’s all about. A new generation of trains is taking over the American railroad, specifically in the Pacific Northwest, where Amtrak’s upcoming Airo trains are expected to introduce a new generation of equipment to Amtrak Cascades, the rail corridor connecting cities including Seattle and Portland. For overseas travellers, the route makes it possible to build a rail-focused itinerary around some of the region’s biggest draws, combining city stays with access to forests, mountains, wine regions and the coast.
As the American railroad celebrates its 200th anniversary, 2027 will be the perfect moment to rediscover the country and all it has to offer from a different point of view.
