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"TRAINS IN THE MOVIES":
 "ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW -
BUT WERE AFFRAID TO ASK"..........
Tourist Railways in the United States of America:
*'The Coast Starlight'*:
This is one of Amtrak's most scenic trips and a particular favourite with young people. A party atmosphere frequently develops, starting in the lounge car and spreading throughout the train as it journeys between Seattle and Los Angeles. You see snow-covered mountains, forest valleys and long stretches of the Pacific shoreline.
*'The California Zephyr'*:
One of the world's great trains, taking two days and nights to travel between Chicago and San Francisco, crossing farmland, prairie, deserts, rivers and the Rocky Mountains. Western pioneers came this way, as did gold prospectors, the Pony Express and the first telegraph line. The Zephyr follows America's earliest transcontinental rail route for much of its 2,420-mile journey.
*'The Southwest Chief'*:
Amtrak's fastest trip from Chicago to the Pacific is along part of the Santa Fe Trail first used by Native Americans then by Spanish conquistadors, mule caravans, wagon trains and stage-coaches. You travel 2,230 miles through eight states, passing wheat fields, ranches, missions, pueblos, mountains and deserts. Sometimes the canyons you go through are only a few feet wider than the train.
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"More on Trains":
 | *'The Sunset Limited'*:
The only way to travel from coast to coast on a single train. After going north from Orlando to Jacksonville in Florida the train heads west into two sunsets. You see the swamps of bayou country and flirt with the Mexican border before crossing Texas ranges to the mountains, deserts and orange groves of California.
*'The Empire Builder'*:
Between Chicago and Seattle this train crosses the Mississippi River and travels more than 2,200 miles past massive wheat fields, cattle ranges, forests, mountains and glacial lakes. America's northern plains were mostly wilderness until the freewheeling tycoon James J Hill built his Great Northern Railway between St Paul and Seattle. Amtrak's Empire Builder takes its name from a train called after him and which ran on this route during the heyday of passenger travel.
*'The Adirondack'*:
You go between New York and the Gallic charms of Montreal by way of the Hudson River Valley, the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Champlain, Vermont and the St Lawrence River. This daytime journey is particularly beautiful during the fall, when New England scenery is at its best.
'*The Silver Star'*:
Another train with a party atmosphere, the Silver Star travels between the New York City and Florida's subtropical resorts, passing through historic Virginia, tracts of pine forest and Old Savannah along the way. Beyond Lake Okeechobee you see many beach resort communities on the approach to Miami.
*'The Crescent'*:
A leisurely journey between New York and the more relaxed city of New Orleans. Southern hospitality envelops staff and passengers alike as Amtrak's friendliest train travels the Northeast Corridor before passing through Civil War country to Atlanta, Birmingham and the south. The Crescent goes through 12 states and the District of Columbia.
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"Big Films Made Here":
 *'Verde Canyon Railroad'*:
The Verde Canyon Railroad offers an exciting 20-mile round-trip to the ghost town depot at Perkinsville, Arizona, over a line built in 1911 for the United Verde Copper Company. You travel through North Verde River Canyon and the Sycamore Wilderness area, which can only be visited by train, and cross the SOB Canyon on a 175ft-high trestle before going through a 680ft tunnel blasted with 20,000 pounds of dynamite.
Parts of How The West Was Won were filmed among the canyon’s Sinagua Indian ruins and abandoned gold mines. You can see cacti, wild flowers, bald eagles, javalinas, blue herons and deer, as well as sometimes beavers, mountain lions and black bears. The line was formerly operated by the Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railroad, which hauled freight until 1988. The railroad is located north of Phoenix.
*'White Pass and Yukon Railway'*:
The White Pass is a unique narrow gauge railroad running from Skagway, Alaska, over the White Pass to Carcoss, Yukon, in Canada. A daily coach/train service operates between Whitehorse and Skagway, including a steep narrow-gauge route from Fraser to Skagway, hugging precipitous cliffs and crossing flimsy-looking trestle bridges. Part of the journey between White Pass and Whitehorse is by motor coach, and the whole trip takes four and a half hours.
Canada may be the only country in the world with a constitution linking its formation to the building of a railway. British Columbia threatened to join the United States if it was not given its own line, so four thousand miles of iron road were driven from the Atlantic to the Pacific and trains have played a crucial part in Canada's history ever since.
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"Scenic Routes":
 *'VIA Rail'*:
Canada's equivalent to Amtrak runs most of the current passenger services.
The refurbished Canadian train travels between Toronto and Vancouver, a journey of almost 2,765 miles taking three days and nights. The Skeena travels among British Columbia's mountains and snow-filled valleys, starting from Jasper in Alberta and following a route formerly used by fur trappers and gold prospectors.
VIA's busiest routes are between Quebec City and Windsor by way of Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. A new overnight service now operates between Montreal and Toronto, so you can replace a hotel stay with a comfortable bedroom on the train, departing at 11:30 pm. By choosing sleeping car class, you sleep as you travel and with on-board showers you arrive fresh and rested. A single Bedroom costs $195 and economy class (no bed). $95 or less.
The Ocean train travels between Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Montreal via New Brunswick. The Chaleur operates three days a week, following the Ocean's route before continuing along the beautiful Gaspe peninsula. The Hudson Bay goes north from Winnipeg, crossing a desert of ice and snow to Churchill and polar bear country.
*'The Rocky Mountaineer'*:
A leisurely two-day journey among the mountains and forests of the Canadian Rockies then on to Calgary makes this one of the world's most spectacular train trips, operated by the Great Canadian Railtour Company Ltd.
*'The Algoma Central'*:
Trains operate between Sault St Marie and Hearst in Ontario, travelling on twisting route among forests, lakes, waterfalls and ravines, with terrific views of the Agawa River Canyon.
*'The Ontario Northland'*:
The Northlander is a technically-advanced passenger train running between Toronto's Union Station and the town of Cochrane via North Bay. The Polar Bear Express is a four-hour, ride down the sparsely populated Arctic watershed, accessible only by train or plane. The Little Bear is a year-round train between Cochrane and Moosoonee.
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"Leaving Platform Four":
 *'The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railroad'*:
This line was originally built to move iron ore from Labrador City to a port at Sept Iles on the Gulf of the St Lawrence. QNS & L trains with Dome cars leave early on Tuesday and Thursday morning from Sept Iles, and on Wednesday and Friday from Labrador City. Some trains go north from Labrador City to Schefferville.
There's more to come.......
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