All Aboard America's Byways

The Durango-Silverton Train Coming Down the Track (CO) [1]

A whistle blows on a dark night, stirring excitement and longing for the glory days of the railroad. The romance of destinations unknown speaks to the soul of the explorer. America's Byways bring you all the thrills, adventure, and nostalgia of train rides. From the Oregon Coast Explorer on the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway - Oregon to the Tioga Scenic Railroad on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail in New York, you can ride rails that cling to mountainsides, barrel through desert canyons or beside shimmering lakes, or wind through twisting, towering canyons.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse (OR) [2]

Known by roadtrippers for views of crashing waves and solitary lighthouses, travelers by train can see another side of Pacific Coast Scenic Byway - Oregon. Hop aboard the vintage 1950s Rail Diesel Car of the Oregon Coast Explorer and settle in for an afternoon of views you can't see from the highway. Make reservations for the exclusive locomotive seats in the 1910 Heisler, and you'll have an up close and personal look at the inner workings of train travel. Or ride in the open car and feel the fresh air against your face. Make an evening of your train excursion and treat yourself to a Sunset Dinner. The Oregon Coast Explorer on the byway offers an adventure you won't forget.

Santa Fe Southern Railway (NM) [3]

The landscape of the Santa Fe Trail in Colorado and New Mexico differs from the lush trees and sandy beaches of the coast, but you'll find the red cliff and rocky beauty of the desert serves as the perfect backdrop for future railroad recollections. Take a ride on a working freight train from the historic depot in Santa Fe to the small town of Lamy, New Mexico, where you can stop for lunch or a drink at the Legal Tender Saloon. The Santa Fe Southern Railway offers themed trips, so you can "oooh" and "ahhh" over fireworks on the Fourth of July, shiver at ghost stories on Halloween, or enjoy a cup of cocoa with Santa around Christmas.

Royal Gorge Route (CO) [4]

Take the Royal Gorge Route on the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway, and you can pass through the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River, also known as The Royal Gorge. Cutting through the Rocky Mountains over the past three million years, the Arkansas River has created this famous landmark near Cañon City. Traveling by train, you'll observe wildlife in its natural environment: bighorn sheep on the mountain ridges, eagles soaring overhead, or ducklings near the river. Catch your breath as the train pauses on Hanging Bridge. One thousand feet above the rushing Class 5 rapids, this suspension bridge was built at the narrowest point of the canyon.

Autumn at the Harbor (NY) [5]

Tour the countryside of upstate New York in leisure while enjoying the glimmering blue of Lake Ontario from the classic open-air car dating to the 1800s. Departing from Oswego on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, the Tioga Scenic Railroad will take you back in time to the golden age of railroading. Get in the mood by purchasing your own striped conductor's hat at the Gift Shoppe. Keep a close eye on your valuables -- you never know when a costumed bandit might join your excursion. After your pleasure trip aboard the train, stop by the museum and see authentic artifacts and a large HO scale model train.

Take a train and get derailed from everyday life. America's Byways will stir excitement and lead you down the tracks to adventure.