Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for train travel
The Bunny Trail
By Linda Tancs
Easter is fast approaching. That means the usual Easter egg hunts, decorated eggs and Easter Bunny photos with the kids. Want something a little different? How about a train ride aboard a 1916-vintage steam locomotive through the scenic Chehalis Valley in Washington State? Just a 90-minute drive from either Portland, Oregon, or Seattle, the nine-mile journey along former Milwaukee Road track winds through pastoral settings featuring several wooden trestles and historic farms. One of the few remaining steam-powered passenger railroads in Washington, the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad offers Easter train rides for kids of all ages, along with other seasonal special events. And, of course, the ride ends with a search for eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny and Chicken Little in the fields.
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An Underground Celebration
By Linda Tancs
London’s famed Underground–the Tube–is celebrating 150 years of service this month. The oldest of all underground systems, it comprises 250 miles of track, circuiting the capital both overground and underground. Its 426 escalators perform the equivalent of two trips around the world every week, and the miles traveled per year add up to 90 return trips to the moon. On that note, we love you to the moon and back–and happy anniversary!
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Hitting the Rails
By Linda Tancs
Delayed or cancelled flights. Lost luggage. Long check-in lines. Is air travel leaving you frazzled? Maybe you’re ready to hit the rails–in a good way, that is. Rail travel in the U.S. is on the upswing. Why not wind your way through Montana’s Glacier National Park on an Amtrak train, taking in the sights from the panoramic windows of the observation car. Or combine your train ride with a sailing on a Rail and Sail package. Headquartered at Union Station in Washington, D.C., Amtrak began operations in 1971 as an intercity passenger train service. They’ve glammed things up quite a bit since then, packaging their offerings into escorted journeys and getaways. Is rail travel for you?
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England’s Most Scenic Railway
By Linda Tancs
The Settle-Carlisle Railway takes you on a 72-mile journey through England’s Yorkshire Dales, a scenic excursion including such attractions as the market town of Settle; Horton and the Three Peaks region of the Dales; the Ribblehead Viaduct; Dent (the highest station above sea level in England); Pendragon Castle (the legendary birthplace of King Arthur) at Kirkby Stephen; the picturesque village of Armathwaite and its salmon fishing; and Carlisle, within easy reach of Hadrian’s Wall and the castle once home to Mary Queen of Scots. Local residents may qualify for a Dales Railcard. Visitors to Britain can use their Britrail pass to travel on the line. You can thank The Friends of the Settle Carlisle Line for fighting against a proposal to close this famous historic and scenic route.
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Ohio’s Crooked River
By Linda Tancs
The Cuyahoga River flows north and south, meandering along the way through Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the only national park in Ohio. The river’s trajectory prompted the Native Americans to name it Cuyahoga, or crooked river. The 65-foot Brandywine Falls are a major attraction, but don’t forget about its other charms, like the visitor center at the canal lock, the Everett Road Covered Bridge (evocative of The Bridges of Madison County), the towpath trail, the grist mill, or Beaver Marsh. That’s a lot of ground to cover. If you’re short on time, take the scenic rail ride through the heart of the park. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad operates regular excursions and special excursions from Rockside Station in Independence to Akron Northside Station and from Canton Lincoln Highway Station to Akron Northside Station. It’s one of the oldest, longest and most scenic train rides in the country. Buy your tickets now for the 40th anniversary celebration on 8 September.
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Moonlight Escape in Napa
By Linda Tancs
You’ve probably heard of the harvest moon, the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. You might have seen a red moon, caused by the particles in the Earth’s atmosphere. How about a snow moon or a wolf moon? Full moon names come to us courtesy of Native Americans. You can experience each one of them on the Napa Valley Wine Train’s Moonlight Escape tour in Napa Valley, California, one of the top wine growing regions in the world. Who could resist dinner for two in a private booth under the light of the full moon, two glasses of house wine, and the adventure of a train traveling through the night over the silver vineyards? Pick your favorite moon, relax, and enjoy the ride.
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Scotsman Soars from Edinburgh to London
By Linda Tancs
The Flying Scotsman is arguably the world’s best known steam locomotive, having dutifully plied the route between London and Edinburgh for decades. Purchased for the nation, it found a home at the National Railway Museum where it is undergoing restoration to full mainline running condition. In the meanwhile, what’s a busy traveler between Edinburgh and London to do? East Coast has the answer. In May, the train operator introduced a Flying Scotsman express service, a four-hour jaunt calling only at Newcastle in its route between Edinburgh and London’s King’s Cross station. The new service is the cream of the puff, you might say. Other improvements include a new early-morning service from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth and Morpeth, which connects into the Flying Scotsman service at Newcastle.
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Cheap Train Tickets in UK
By Linda Tancs
Given the relative uncertainty of travel costs in the UK, it’s worth exploring all of the options for cheap travel, like rail bookings using thetrainline. Use the Best Fare Finder to locate the best deal or the Ticket Alert for notification when advance purchase options become available. You can even download a free application to buy tickets from your mobile. Want a package deal? You can select among train, hotel and theatre options for a customized experience. There’s even a carbon calculator for the environmentally conscious among you.
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Holiday Cheer Coming to Whippany Railway
By Linda Tancs
All aboard for the Santa Claus Special at the Whippany Railway grounds in Morris County, New Jersey. Beginning on 5 December, the annual 10-mile, 45-minute train ride features gifts and merriment from Santa and his helpers. Located at Railroad Plaza in Whippany, the railway museum also offers a glimpse into local railroad history on Sundays only from April through October. The grounds include a Central Railroad of New Jersey club car, the Jersey Coast. You’ll also find the Pennsylvania Railroad caboose, the old railroad company being one of the wealthiest and most powerful in the world. Its likeness has even been imitated by the Lionel toy train company; a model has been in production since 1953. Plan to come back for the spring thaw.
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Quaint Quedlinburg
By Linda Tancs
The Harz Mountains is a mountain range in central Germany in the district of Sachsen-Anhalt. At its foot about 1300 houses showcasing centuries of architectual history grant Quedlinburg status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its quaint half-timbered houses are a medieval testament to a bustling 10th century political and social mecca presided over by King Heinrich I. For spectacular views, ride the narrow gauge steam train of the Selke Valley Railway on the line from Magdeburg at Quedlinburg station.
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