British traveller Garry Smith takes a ride on the famous Rocky Mountaineer train – but will it live up to his expectations? My bucket-list train trip My journey on the Rocky Mountaineer was a long time coming. Not because of any indecision or inefficiency but Covid got seriously in the way of my original timings. […]
Tag: scenic railway
Railway expert Rob Carroll shares his tips for on the five best rail journeys to book for 2022 After nearly 15 years of organising escorted rail holidays for groups, I recently rejoined the Leger Shearings Group. ‘What has coach travel got to do with railways?’ you might ask. Well, there have always been enthralling, nostalgic […]
Jools Townsend is CEO of the Community Rail Network. Here she reveals why Scenic Rail Britain is promoting UK rail travel in 2021 and which train journeys get her vote Why is Scenic Rail Britain promoting the joys of rail travel in the UK? Our campaign is all about promoting sustainable days out, especially on […]
Secrets of the Watercress Line
Malcolm Tattersall takes a trip to Hampshire to discover the secrets of the famous Watercress Line Step back in time The uniformed porter on the platform at quaint Ropley Station just shrugged after announcing the Watercress Line’s 5pm steam service to Alresford was delayed by 15 minutes. ‘It’s all part of the realistic nostalgia experience,’ […]
Vicky Mayer takes a memorable trip on the Kent & East Sussex Railway and discovers a journey full of surprises The journey begins at Tenterden Town station Lovely Tenterden in Kent is a gorgeous place to start a train journey on one of the UK’s most popular heritage train lines, the Kent & East Sussex […]
We’re dying to try this trip…
North Yorkshire Moors Railway, UK
Take a trip back in time on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, one of Britain’s most scenic railway routes. The train covers 24 miles through some of North Yorkshire’s most amazing scenery, with guests travelling behind heritage steam locomotives in historic carriages. Everything about this trip evokes nostalgia, from the grandeur of the its Pullman […]
The White Pass and Yukon Route is a railroad in Alaska, an isolated railway line connecting Skagway with Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. The railroad was built in 1889 during the Klondike Gold Rush and used by workers seeking their fortune out in the goldfields. Today it’s a heritage rail route taking passengers on three […]
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is a heritage rail route in Cañon City, Colorado. Transiting the scenic Royal Gorge on a two-hour adventure to Parkdale, the train rails through the most famed portion of the former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. It runs through the hair-raising steep-walled canyon and along the Arkansas river, a […]
Mount Washington Cog Railway – USA
The Mountain Cog Railway was the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway, a tiny toy-train like vehicle climbing Mount Washington in the US state of New Hampshire. More than 150 years since its conception, it’s still the only one of its kind operating in North America, and passengers can ride the route from Marshfield Base Station […]
Grand Canyon Railway – USA
The Grand Canyon Railway is one of the most magnificent ways to experience the US’ majestic Grand Canyon. It’s been taking passengers on this adventure since 1901, with the only difference in 120 years being the speeds of the journey – now just 2 hours, 15 minutes each way. Departing daily from Williams, Arizona, the […]
The state of Alaska is often described as ‘the final frontier’ and travelling across this vast landscape can seem a little daunting – especially with national parks the size of small countries and hundreds of miles between towns. That’s where the Denali Star train steps in, linking Alaska’s largest city Anchorage to the rural city […]
The Welsh Highland Railway, which runs for 26 miles through Snowdonia National Park, is Britain’s longest heritage railway line. Departing from Caernarfon, it passes the foot of Snowdon and the quaint village of Beddgelert, then through Aberglaslyn Pass and on to Porthmadog. The full return journey is approximately six hours, however shorter trips (for example Porthmadog […]
The Settle to Carlisle Railway is railway line in northern England, running through some of the most beautiful scenery in the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian Fells. The rail route is famous for its Victorian architecture, vast stone viaducts, quaint station buildings and long tunnels. The last great mainline railway to be built in the UK, […]
Great Britain is the focus for the Northern Belle train which travels year-round around the English, Scottish and Welsh countryside, offering guests great days out to classic cities like York, Edinburgh and Chester as well as visits to popular events such as the Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Ascot. The Northern Belle was previously part […]
The Heart of Wales Line is a scenic rail route showing off the beauty of the Welsh countryside, stretching 121 miles from the coastal city of Swansea to the market town of Shrewsbury. It’s loved by day-trippers, walkers and locals alike, providing a vital link between the rural communities and towns of Mid Wales and […]
The Road to the Isles is a wild, remote and rugged route across the Scottish Highlands, and travellers are able to explore this route aboard the Jacobite train. Described as the greatest railway journey in the world, the Jacobite takes passengers on an 84-mile round-trip from Fort William to Mallaig through some of the most […]
Blaenavon Heritage Railway – Wales
The Blaenavon Heritage Railway is a popular volunteer-run heritage railway in South Wales. It runs both steam and diesel trains every weekend between Spring and Autumn. It also runs a timetable of special weekends throughout the year including a Steampunk Special, Halloween Celebration and Steam Santa Special. The line is the highest preserved standard-gauge line […]
The Al Andalus train trip offers lucky passengers the chance to explore the best of Spain’s famed Andalucia region on board a five-star luxury sleeper train. Known as The Spanish Palace On Wheels, this beautifully decorated express train provides guests with a sophisticated and glamorous way to see such amazing Spanish sights as Seville’s gothic […]
Panama Canal Railway – Panama
The Panama Canal Railway is a tale of two oceans, linking Panama’s Atlantic coastline with the Pacific Ocean. The railway passes across the Isthmus of Panama from Colón (Atlantic) to Balboa (Pacific), near Panama City, cutting through the Panamanian countryside and showing off some of the country’s lesser-trodden but breat-taking landscapes. The line was built […]