Experience a once-in-a-lifetime rail journey across the most diverse country in the world! Your photo album will include the Statue of Liberty, the White House, the Wild West, the Rockies, the Grand Canyon, Hollywood Boulevard and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Trains

Amtrak provides the passenger train services in the USA and relaxing on board one of its comfortable long distance trains is simply the best way to discover this vast country, its great cities and ever-changing landscape.

On overnight journeys, accommodation is in a Superliner Roomette, with two comfortable reclining seats beside a large window, which convert to upper and lower berths at night. Each cabin has individual climate control, a fold down table, fresh towels and complimentary bottled water. WC, shower and washroom facilities are located at the end of each carriage. Roomettes are located on both the upper and lower levels of the double-deck carriages.

On some services a limited number of bedrooms are available at a supplement. These cabins have a daytime sofa that converts to a wide lower berth and a comfortable upper berth at night, and the added benefit of their own en suite shower, washbasin and WC.

During daytime journeys we travel in comfortable seats with plenty of legroom.

Most of Amtrak's long distance trains include a restaurant car and meals are included on all overnight journeys. Passengers travelling during the day may purchase meals from the restaurant car where this service is provided. Many trains also have Lounge, Dinette and Café cars where passengers can buy snacks, meals and beverages and take advantage of the comfy seating.

Washington to the Allegheny Mountains

Our overnight journey on board the Capitol Limited takes us 764 miles (1,230km) from Washington, DC to Chicago. We begin at Washington's beautifully restored Union Station and as we leave the city we catch glimpses of landmarks such as the blue and gold dome of the largest Catholic cathedral in the US. The train soon enters the state of Maryland and we begin our climb through the Appalachians, which offers us wonderful views of the Allegheny Mountains along the way.

Across the Appalachian Trail to Harpers Ferry

The Capitol Limited crosses the famous Appalachian Trail, the world's longest continuous footpath, and travel over the Potomac River into West Virginia. The train then carries us along the beautiful Potomac River Valley and through the historic town of Harpers Ferry, renowned for its pivotal role in the American Civil War, before continuing through the peaceful, rolling countryside - once the scene of huge battles during the Civil War.

Through Maryland and Ohio to Cleveland

On leaving Martinsburg, the home of the oldest working railway station in the US, the Capitol Limited re-enters Maryland and heads through Cumberland towards the Cumberland Gap - a pass through the Appalachian Mountains. We quickly reach the Maryland/Pennsylvania State Line and travel towards Pittsburgh, arriving in the city at nightfall. Soon after leaving Pittsburgh we cross another State Line into Ohio and continue through the state's farmlands to Cleveland. Situated on the southern shores of Lake Erie, the city of Cleveland has been called home by many famous Americans - including political leaders, John D Rockefeller and Superman!

To Chicago

During the night we continue through Ohio on a route which follows the shore of Lake Eyrie to Sandusky, one of the Great Lakes' major coal shipping ports, and the port city of Toledo, situated at the western end of the lake. Leaving Lake Eyrie behind us we head into Indiana and race westwards across the state, arriving at the Illinois/Indiana State Line in the morning. Shortly after entering Illinois we reach the outer suburbs of Chicago. Enjoy the excellent views of the Chicago River and the dramatic city skyline as the Capitol Limited makes its final approach to our destination, the 'Windy City' of Chicago and its imposing Union Station.

The full route of the California Zephyr runs from Chicago in the east to Emeryville, California in the west. During our overnight sleeper journey on the California Zephyr as part of our USA Coast to Coast holiday, we travel on just a section of this route - from Chicago to the 'mile high' city of Denver, a 17 hour 1,038 mile (1670 km) trip.

Chicago to the Mississipi

As we leave Chicago, the California Zephyr follows the Chicago River and we catch glimpses of the Sears Tower, which dominates the city's skyline. We travel through the state of Illinois, stopping at Princeton and Galesburg, before reaching the Mississippi River. The Illinois/Iowa State Line runs down the centre of the Mississippi: we cross the river into Iowa and, moments later, make a stop in the city of Burlington.

Across Iowa to Nebraska

We travel right across the Midwestern state of Iowa from east to west, reaching the Missouri River and the Iowa/Nebraska State Line just after we make a stop in the city of Council Bluffs. Our first stop in Nebraska is Omaha, the birthplace of a number of famous names including Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando and Malcolm X.

Through Colorado to Denver

The California Zephyr takes us through Nebraska, passing through cities such as Lincoln and Hastings. On reaching the Colorado/Nebraska State Line, we change from Central to Mountain Time: clocks go back one hour at this point. We continue across Colorado, making a stop in Fort Morgan, the hometown of Big Band musician, Glen Miller, until we finally reach our destination, Denver.

On some of our USA tours we travel this route in reverse, beginning in Denver and ending in Chicago.

The full journey of the Southwest Chief stretches 2,256 miles (3,631km) from Chicago to Los Angeles, taking passengers on a historic route well-trodden by American Indians, Spanish conquistadors and fur trappers. We travel on just a short section of the route from Flagstaff in Arizona to Los Angeles overnight; we board the train in the evening and arrive at our destination the following morning.

The Southwest Chief departs Flagstaff and takes us along the route of the famous US Route 66 highway, through Arizona to the State Line, where we enter California. We cross the Colorado River and travel through the Mojave Desert, making stops in small desert towns before ascending the Cajon Pass at a height of 3,811 feet (1,162m). Created by the movements of the San Andreas Fault, the Cajon Pass offers a route through the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains. The Southwest Chief continues through Fullerton in Orange County and passes through the sprawling suburbs of Los Angeles before reaching the end point of our journey: the Mission Revival style Los Angeles Union Station.

The Coast Starlight runs on the 1,390-mile (2,237km) route from Los Angeles to Seattle, taking its passengers along the shores of the Pacific Ocean, through lush, green valleys and impressive mountain ranges. On our USA Coast to Coast holiday we travel just a short section of this journey from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

LA to the Pacific Coast

Our journey begins in Los Angeles Union Station, which opened in 1939 and is a blend of Spanish and Art Deco architecture. Leaving the urban sprawl of Los Angeles behind us, we travel past the famous Forest Lawn Memorial Park, the final resting place of many of Hollywood's famous names including Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and Walt Disney.

After passing through Glendale we reach the city of Burbank, home to many of the biggest film studios including Warner Brothers, Disney and Columbia. We continue through the San Fernando Valley towards the Santa Susanna Mountains and the Simi Hills, and travel along the narrow Simi Valley towards the Pacific Coast and the city of Oxnard. We finally reach the Pacific Coast at Ventura, at which point the Coast Starlight begins to head north, hugging the coastline and following the Pacific Coast Highway. We enjoy spectacular views of the ocean and the long stretches of golden, sandy beaches, as well as the islands of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa.

Santa Barbara to San Francisco

The train makes a stop in Santa Barbara before continuing along the coast, passing the Point Conception Lighthouse and crossing the high trestle over Jalam Beach Park, just before it crosses the Vandenberg Air Force Base. We travel alongside the famous Pismo Beach and then begin to head inland to San Luis Obispo. Shortly after leaving the city, we cross the Stenner Creek Trestle and begin to ascend 1,000 feet in 11 miles to the Cuesta Pass. We travel through cattle ranch country to Paso Robles and then onwards through the Salinas Valley, past 18th century mission towns and the Diablo Mountain Range to Salinas.

The final stage of our journey takes us through Castroville, the 'artichoke capital of the world', Gilroy, the 'garlic capital of the world' and the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountain Range. We make a stop in San Jose, the first state capital of California, before reaching our destination, the vibrant city of San Francisco.

The Durango & Silverton Railroad has been in continuous operation since 1882 - now 128 years ago. It still operates steam engines and vintage rolling stock, and, perhaps most impressively, they are all indigenous to the line. The locomotives in use today made their first appearance there between 1923 and 1925.

The line climbs from Durango into the San Juan Mountains at Silverton, on a journey lasting 3 ½ hours. This allows plenty of time to enjoy the magnificent scenery.

Vintage diesel locomotives and classic coaches have been painstakingly restored to their original condition on the Grand Canyon Railway. Occasionally steam engines do run, but to limit the effects on the environment they are powered on vegetable oil!

The route starts at the south end at the historic Williams Depot, built in 1908. It runs north through the state of Arizona and terminates at the Grand Canyon Depot, which was finished in 1910.

As well as the fascinating scenery, during your journey you can also enjoy musicians performing numbers from the early 20th century, and actors performing a staged shoot-out. There are also attendants on board, happy to answer any questions you may have.

Accommodation