Steam Train Tours
Steam locomotives once powered America's trains. Today, most
steam engine trains have been converted to diesel or electric
power. Still, there remain some scenic train rides that offer this
nostalgic mode of travel, such as New England's Essex Steam Train,
which follows a course through the pastoral Connecticut River
Valley-an exceptionally breathtaking sight during fall foliage
season.
Steam train excursions recall a bygone era of travel.
Itineraries featuring these heritage railways offer the ideal
balance between modern touring and historical journeys.
California's Redwood Forest Steam Train
employs one of the oldest preserved narrow-gauge steam engines.
This scenic train ride shares the history of the Roaring Camp
Railroad on its journey through the state's towering redwood
groves. Colorado is home to two famous steam train rides: The Durango &
Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, connecting the historic mining
towns of Durango and Silverton across the Animas River Canyon and
the Cumbres & Toltec
Scenic Railroad, the longest narrow-gauge steam railroad in the
United States. The Great Smoky Mountains
Railroad operates a steam train excursion along the Tuckasegee
River through the western corner of rural North Carolina. In
contrast, the Tennessee Valley Railroad's
Summerville Steam Special offers a look at the mountains in
Southern Tennessee and Northern Georgia.
These steam train trips in the USA showcase some of the
country's best-kept secrets: special trains, charming small towns,
and fantastic scenery.