Scenic and heritage railroads

Scenic and heritage railroads are a different world from Amtrak and VIA. Most are short excursion lines run by companies, states or volunteers, often on historic track, and many use steam locomotives. Some, like the Durango and Silverton or the Cumbres and Toltec, are narrow gauge lines built for mining; others, like the Mount Washington and Pikes Peak cog railways, climb mountains no ordinary train could. A few, such as the Grand Canyon Railway and the Alaska Railroad, are real ways to reach a national park.

Seasons are short at many of them, and prices and timetables change every year, so treat our guides as a starting point and book on each railroad's own website. Where an Amtrak or VIA station is close, we say so.