USA by Rail

by John Pitt

Fully updated to take into account route and timetable changes, this is the only book available specifically designed for US train travel. Rugged charm sets the train apart from more mundane means of transport and its ecological soundness is again in fashion. Pampered by helpful attendants, you can travel from coast to coast, explore the Rocky Mountains and ride directly alongside two oceans. Less expensive than flying and more comfortable than the bus, the train keeps you relaxed and in touch with an ever-changing landscape as the world becomes a framed but moving picture.

Genres: Travel, Reference

322 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 1992

Reviews

[Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was an okay book to buy for long train trips, but probably is closer to 2.5 stars than 3. The best part of the book is the introductory material, celebrating train travel, and two chapters on the history of rail travel in America. It provides highlights of the "out-the-window" experience for all Amtrak routes, but it's advice is pretty much the same as you can find on the Amtrak website. Not that it isn't useful to have it in written form, since cell service can be pretty poor in a lot of the Western parts of Amtrak routes; I lost cell service for most of a day on the California Zephyr once we climbed the Rockies. And some of the material on current Amtrak operations is already becoming out-of-date; for example it warns about freight train delays, but Amtrak won the court fight on that one.

Bottom line: a useful introduction to routes you haven't seen before, with some good background on the history and role of train travel in America, but if you are looking for good information on a particular route I'd recommend the Flashing Yellow Guidebooks for the route you plan to ride.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

details on what to do at every stop amtrak makes

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Out of date, though I assume that wasn't the case when it was printed, but notwithstanding that it's too dense, too full of information available from Amtrak's website and not enough advise.

[Tish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good reference. Used on cross country travel via Amtrak. Helpful