[ Train whistle blows ]
??
-? Get on board ?
? We're ready to go ?
? See the world from the scenic railroad ?
? From the snowcapped mountains to the sunny coast ?
? On the "Great Scenic Railway Journeys" ?
??
-Greetings. I'm Robert Van Camp, creator and producer
of the "Great Scenic Railway Journeys" series.
For the last 30 years, I've been riding the rails
and taking you on some amazing adventures across North America
and as far away as New Zealand and Australia.
Today I'm here at one of the oldest
and most historic railroads in North America,
the East Broad Top.
They are just one of many railway adventures
we'll take you on
on our upcoming 30th anniversary special.
-We begin our anniversary special
traveling on the pride of Canada -- VIA Rail.
We will venture through the majestic Canadian Rockies
and experience all the luxury and services
this cross-country trip offers.
Then we'll head to the foothills of Pennsylvania
and visit the historic East Broad Top Railroad
for a taste of America's industrial past.
Here, we'll show you all the wonders
of this national historic site,
which is a living time capsule and a true American treasure.
From there, we're right around the corner
from another historic Pennsylvania railroad --
the Reading and Blue Mountain Northern.
We'll depart from the historic Jim Thorpe Depot
for a journey through the beautiful
Lehigh Gorge State Park.
Next, we'll head to the magnificent woods
of North Wisconsin.
You'll experience the variety of excursions
the Wisconsin Great Northern offers,
including their famed overnight bed-and-breakfast train.
Our next stop features some breathtaking ocean views
as we venture to the Pacific Northwest
and take a steam journey
on the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.
We'll also visit the Tillamook Air Museum
and see its collection of military and other aircraft
housed in the largest wooden blimp hangar of its kind.
Then, an up-close look at the American bald eagle,
along with a true culinary feast
awaits in West Virginia.
We'll travel along the South Branch
of the Potomac River and see all the wonders
the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad offers.
The mountains of Maryland is home
to the largest steam engine operating in the East Coast.
We'll join the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
on a round-trip journey from Cumberland to Frostburg,
pulled by the "Beast of the East,"
Locomotive 1309.
From Maryland, we head to Santa Fe, New Mexico,
to journey on one of the newest railway ventures
in the United States -- Sky Railway.
It offers entertaining trips full of adventure
and stunning scenery
as you pass through the magical "Land of Enchantment."
We end our railway adventures
in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
First stop, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
They provide a five-star service and legendary scenery
as you travel through the stunning beauty
of this natural wonder.
From there, we head to Denver to board the Rocky Mountaineer
for a two-day trip to Moab, Utah.
It's a journey filled with top-level service and food,
along with some of the most picturesque views
of the Rockies and Red Rocks.
All this and more as we celebrate
some of North America's best railway adventures
on our 30th anniversary special.
The Streamliner Era trains of the 1950s
and '60s have long disappeared
from the North American landscape, except for this one.
And we're about to take you on it
on a journey clear across Canada.
-Welcome aboard, Mr. Van Camp. -Thank you.
[ Train whistle blows ]
-Welcome, everyone. We are on Train Number One,
the legendary Canadian, almost 5,000 kilometers.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-You need a train, of course, to experience railroad magic.
But the real trick is to put yourself
on the grandest stage possible.
Look no further than Canada.
-Canada is such a vast country, and there's so much to see,
and this is an easy way to do it.
-Easy, thanks to VIA Rail, Canada's national railroad.
Hop aboard, and you can go from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, across the plains,
through the Rockies, from sunrise to sunset
on a narrow ribbon of rail
through some of the most majestic scenery in the world.
-I think it's wonderful to go through Ontario
and see the wilderness
and wake up on the prairies the next morning,
and then this morning, wake up to see the mountains.
It's just awesome.
-Just how incredible is this trip?
Well, first of all, you're traveling
through the second-largest country in the world
on board the pride of Canada.
-The train that we're on, The Canadian,
is an iconic train.
It's one of the iconic train trips around the world.
-The train is so famous,
it's been featured on Canada's $10 note,
which instills a sense of national pride here.
-As a Canadian, I'm really proud of this train
because it shows the beautiful history of our country
and the potential of our country
to continue to go to these remote places,
reach out and share this country with other people.
-Well, I boarded in Toronto, my hometown.
And I have to say, I had a moment
of emotional pride when I saw the name on the train,
The Canadian.
-People come from around the world to ride The Canadian.
It's a stainless-steel time capsule that encloses you
in a world of beauty, history, and imagination.
-This is the most fantastic ride on the continent.
The train itself is beautiful,
and the views outside are incomparable.
Every time you look out the window,
there's another marvel to explore.
You go on journeys in your mind
while you're on a journey on the train.
You imagine what it was like hundreds of years ago
crossing the country.
-VIA Rail offers packages and services
that can keep you on this train for up to 12 days,
and to help keep you comfortable,
they have many sleeping options for you to choose from.
There's four types of living accommodations
on this train in the touring class.
So you have a lower and upper berth,
which is semiprivate for one.
Then we have a private bedroom for one, which we refer to
as a roomette, which has your own bathroom
and your own sink and a bed that comes out
from either the ceiling or the wall.
Then we have bedrooms for two.
Has an adjoining room next to it with a movable wall.
And if you take that wall down,
it becomes a suite for two or for four.
Or you can have four people in it
and in the daytime, just leave the wall open,
put the beds away, and you have four large chairs to sit in,
and you have two private windows to watch the journey.
-I'll tell you, this trip has been unbelievable.
But my favorite class of service by far is the Prestige service.
This is what folks come for.
It is completely sold out years in advance.
And there's a reason why.
-The Prestige service,
which is really our luxury brand,
which is the full bedroom for two with a private shower,
private bathroom, and a full double bed,
which comes out as a Murphy bed out of the wall
with a very, very large picture window in front of it.
Prestige not only has bigger rooms, private shower,
private bathroom, and all the other amenities --
It also has appetizers that are served.
There's a concierge service with Prestige as well.
The food is better, the alcohol is included,
and it's just an overall luxury-brand product.
-I'm just proud about, you know,
trying to provide excellent customer service
to the passengers.
I feel like they deserve excellent --
You know, it's a trip in the lifetime
for a lot of these people, so you just want to make sure
that they enjoy it and have a great time.
-And Jake has lots of help,
with a brigade of talented co-workers
that ensure passengers experience the very best
this trip has to offer.
-Bon voyage, tout le monde!
Have a wonderful trip on Train Number One. Cheers.
-Cheers. -Cheers.
-We have today 26 crew members.
And we have porters making the beds,
taking care of the accommodations.
We have chefs and cooks cooking all the meals --
breakfast, lunch, dinner.
And then we have two activity coordinators
making sure we catch all the highlights of each trip.
So we have to make it the best trip for them.
-The staff make the trip, really.
I mean, we always say, you know,
we're selling the scenery, which we don't own,
we're selling the journey, and we're selling the experience."
And the staff is what makes the experience.
If it's a trip of a lifetime,
the last thing you want is to have poor service.
And we thrive on great service,
and that's what keeps bringing people back.
-And we have our maple chicken
with rosemary and thyme under the skin.
-Another element that sets this journey apart
is the culinary feast it provides.
-The food is amazing. It's delicious.
It's -- There are lots of options -- vegetarian, meat.
So you can choose, like, what is best for your diet.
It's great. -The taste of the food,
the presentation have all been excellent.
The staff has made it as if it's my home,
and they've welcomed me, and it's just great.
It's the best food I've had in a long, long time.
[ Sizzling ]
-Food prepared and cooked in a 1950-era dining car.
One thing that has not changed since then --
the fact that you are moving.
Well, the challenge is, like,
when the train is going really fast,
you know, and you're cooking and carrying some hot stuff,
it's kind of -- You know,
you have to be able to do it with being jerked around.
-The challenges in tight quarters,
along with serving hot meals at 100 kilometers an hour,
has somehow drawn his team closer together.
A tight-knit family here.
-I love the family factor.
There's no teamwork like on the train.
You won't find that in a restaurant because...
You won't.
-A team with a common goal,
making your 4,400-kilometer journey
from Toronto to Vancouver
a memory that will last forever.
-This train is a classic.
It's gorgeous. And especially now at a time
when we're trying to really appreciate retro beauty,
this train has really got it.
-It's -- It sort of stands for what a Canadian is.
It's -- You know, it's been here a long time.
And we give good service.
It's just a beautiful train that I hope lasts forever.
It'd be nice for our children to be able to go on this train
in another 50 years and see it the way it is.
It's excellent.
-There are very few places in the world
where you can literally step back in time.
And I'm at one of them -- East Broad Top Railway
here in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania.
It is a living time capsule that the Smithsonian itself described
as one of the most intact 19th-century
industrial sites in the country.
Nestled in the lush foothills of South Central Pennsylvania
lies a diamond in the rough, a railroaders' heaven,
where you are truly afforded a glimpse
into our rich railroading past.
[ Train whistle blows ]
??
-It's just an amazing place
where time is frozen.
There's so few places where you can see
what a railroad used to be like.
And so much of the original buildings,
the original equipment,
it's all still here.
-East Broad Top is the oldest operating narrow-gauge railroad
in the United States.
Started back in 1872,
the railroad has hauled everything from pig iron, coal,
ganister rock, timber, U.S. mail, and, of course, people.
They'd come from all corners of the earth.
-The enormous volume of traffic
that it carried at its peak in the 1920s, '30s, '40s.
It was a big railroad in every way except for its gauge.
It had modern equipment, modern locomotives, and heavy traffic
that was crucial in World War II to the national defense.
-The East Broad Top steam whistles echoed
through these parts until the mid-1950s,
when the coal business finally gave out.
-In 1956, the railroad shut down, and it was simply
pretty much a matter of people laying down their tools
and going home and locking the doors.
So it was pretty much captured in time.
-Like many railroads at that time that shut down,
it was sold to a salvage company,
destined to be scrapped.
But this one didn't get torn up.
After the owner of the salvage company visited the site,
seeing all the historic equipment
and buildings still intact,
he just couldn't bring himself to tearing it all down.
-The legend is that the locomotives were --
He heard the locomotives talking in the roundhouse that --
you know, who would be the first one to be scrapped.
And Number 12 said it was the oldest
and said that she'd go first.
And Mr. Kovalchick came in,
which is Joe's dad, Nick Kovalchick,
and just didn't have the heart to do it.
That's the story that Joe tells,
but I think they saw the significance of it.
-In February of 2020,
the Kovalchick family passed the torch to a new owner,
the EBT Foundation, for them to carry on the vision --
a full restoration of this National Historic Landmark.
-You're preserving a part of history.
A part of history that's not sanitized.
It's dirty work.
Everything's, you know, got a layer of soot
or dust or grease on it.
Yeah, it's -- it's authentic.
-Charles Wooten is part of an army of over 1,800 volunteers,
all part of the Friends of the East Broad Top.
Their group plays a key role in helping restore this railroad
back to its 19th-century glory.
-Rebuilding structures, reroofing structures,
rebuilding windows.
Basically anything that the buildings need,
we've got either the expertise,
or we find the expertise to get it done.
-My God, with the small staff we've had,
what we have done is truly nothing short of monumental.
Mains are running cold. We're good.
-David and his team have their own monumental task --
to bring back to life one of EBT's steam engines.
The last time Number 16 operated was back in 1956
when the railroad shut down.
It was put in the roundhouse behind me
with the other locomotives,
not sure if it would be scrapped or ever see service again.
Fast-forward 67 years,
and thanks to the loving efforts of the EBT to restore it,
she's now back under steam for all of us to enjoy.
It took just over 2 1/2 years to complete the rebuild.
-Steam is what makes the East Broad Top
the East Broad Top. in many ways.
People have been waiting a long time
to see steam return to the East Broad Top.
This is really that -- that moment
that people have been waiting for.
-Watching this locomotive in action
is truly a sight to behold.
The steam engine is just one of many things
the East Broad Top Railroad has brought back to life.
They also have over two dozen structures
that have been in or are in the process of being restored,
along with a fleet of rolling stock,
including passenger cars,
diesel locomotives, and gas-electric motorcars.
One of the most fascinating parts of the collection
is housed inside the depot.
-We are in the East Broad Top Railroad
passenger station vaults.
These are a series of bound volumes
that came from the offices in Philadelphia
after the railroad closed in 1956.
Above me, the voucher registers, transfer registers,
everything that you could imagine.
And the financials and organizational records
are found right here.
The archives is an estimated 5,000 linear feet of materials,
and these include bound volumes, ledgers, maps and drawings,
train orders, and all of the organizational records
of the East Broad Top Railroad.
??
-Everything comes to life here at East Broad Top Railroad,
including their machine shops, that are powered through
an amazing array of belts
from a stationary steam engine that's nearly 200 years old.
-Yeah, it's very simple to engage the machine.
It just slides the belt from an idler pulley
to the drive pulley.
And it's just as simple as moving the lever.
??
[ Train whistle blows ]
-Truly, East Broad Top is a sprawling museum in motion,
no better appreciated
than hopping on board one of its vintage trains.
The railroad offers beautiful rides
through pastoral Central Pennsylvania,
its postcard beauty pristine and untouched...
just like all of the East Broad Top shops and buildings.
The 9-mile round trip is so rewarding,
both on and off the narrow tracks.
-It's pretty incredible.
You just don't get to see
stuff like this come back from the dead.
And that's really what it is.
Most of this stuff gets scrapped, and that's it.
It's a picture in Grandpa's scrapbook.
But it's a piece of local history.
It's a piece of Americana.
This was such a huge part of America becoming what it is.
And, yeah, I love it. I'm here for it.
-On a cool winter day through the bare branches,
Number 16 blasts clouds into the sky.
Another successful resurrection by the East Broad Top Railroad.
This is truly a one-of-a-kind place
and a one-of-a-kind experience.
-There's very few places where you're continuously
doing something new at a 150-year-old historic site.
We have the benefit here of having new old things
happen a lot.
We have lots of firsts.
Today was a first, and we'll be expanding the railroad
to places that haven't seen a train since 1956.
New cars, more locomotives.
There's so much that's gonna come down the pipeline.
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>> Hi, I'm Linda Berman, a
Wisconsin. Today isBS
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-Our next stop was once nicknamed
the "Little Switzerland" of North America
and later the "Gateway to the Poconos."
I'm here in the historic town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania,
home to the Reading and Blue Northern Railroad,
which gives its passengers a glimpse
into the rich history of this area.
This small town is nestled between deep green forests
just 90 minutes northwest of Philadelphia.
It was originally called Mauch Chunk --
a native name meaning "Mountain of the Sleeping Bear."
But that changed in 1954,
when this became the final resting place
and the namesake of Jim Thorpe,
the first Native American U.S. Olympic gold medal winner.
An incredible athlete who also became a pro football player.
For many, the journey to Jim Thorpe's yesteryears
begins here at the beautiful historic depot
with a train ride blending past and present.
-There was actually a solar panel next to a telegraph pole.
And to be able to see that
and see how far we've come with our technology,
but yet trying to preserve the past
and where we've come from, is just so important,
and it's so important to know
and learn the stories of people before us
and appreciate what they've been through
so that we can live,
hopefully, a richer and fuller life.
-History is captured outside and in on this trip.
The Reading and Blue Northern fleet is a very large
and impressive collection of freight and passenger equipment.
It includes diesel and steam locomotives,
along with beautifully restored cars.
And a back deck perch,
a caboose -- something that's very rare and unique
to be able to ride in these days.
-This was our daughters' first train ride for both of them.
And to experience the joy on their faces
has been so memorable,
and to see the fall foliage in combination
with being on this authentic, historic train
has just been a great experience.
It's gonna be a memory that we'll take with us forever.
-Up to six passengers can have this 1933 caboose
all to themselves.
-Families really enjoy riding in the caboose. The closeness.
You're not near other people.
They could get together,
sit on the back platform, look out at the scenery.
They could sit up in the cupola, look out the windows there.
It's a completely different experience
than riding in another coach.
-The train's historic cars are varied
and offer a welcoming spot for every kind of passenger,
including man's best friend.
-You're very limited on where you can take dogs.
So it was nice. Everybody was super-friendly, welcoming.
They've gotten a ridiculous amount of pets.
Pats, treats.
-The open-air cars are a favorite for many on this trip.
Your senses come alive here.
-You can feel the air, you can smell it,
you can see the mountains, you can see the gorge,
along with, of course, the history.
So it just brings all your senses to life.
-The equipment is one aspect of your journey.
The other is its employees.
-It's a lot of work, but it's very rewarding.
We enjoy seeing our passengers having a good time.
Our employees have a good time doing the job,
making people happy.
We have a car host in each car.
-Here. Hi, guys. Tickets, please.
-Hey. How are you?
-How are you doing, guys? -I don't have $10.
-William Solomon spent many years
as a conductor on this railroad.
After retiring, his love of the rails brought him right back,
this time as a car host and ticket agent.
-It's just so much fun.
I was born in Mauch Chunk, so I'm what's known as a Chunker.
So I lived here my whole life. Just the best job in the world.
I live only a mile away, so it couldn't be any better.
Hope you enjoy your ride.
-Employees on this line say they love what they do,
perhaps because the railroad is a part of their past,
as well as their present.
??
-I grew up in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania,
right along the Reading and Northern main line.
And I got to ride my bike to all the crossings and the yard
and get to meet the guys.
And throughout my years of hanging out in the railroad,
I knew I wanted it to be a career.
I knew the right people at the right time.
I applied, and I became a freight conductor in 2007.
It's -- I've always wanted to do it. I enjoy doing it.
And every day is a new adventure.
-I work with the best crew.
I mean, I couldn't get better people to work with and for.
And I love working with the passengers
and just being helpful and giving them some insights
and just having an exciting time on the train.
-The 70-minute ride carries you 16 miles
through lush forests, across the towering bridge
high above the rambling Lehigh River,
then towards the Lehigh Gorge State Park
with its beauty and wildlife.
Passengers can also experience
another part of railroading -- a runaround.
This is when the engine changes positions at the halfway point,
moving from the front of the train
to the rear for your return trip.
And on the way back,
watch for a different mode of transport --
cyclists, who can ride up to 165 miles on this bike path,
which was once the old Central Railroad of New Jersey.
There are many things to do and see here in Jim Thorpe,
but one of my favorite places to come to
is right here at the Mauch Chunk History Museum.
They have an unbelievable collection of artifacts
and information detailing the history of this area.
Including a model of a switchback railroad
that was once a top tourist attraction in North America,
second only to Niagara Falls,
all because of an innovative way to move coal off the mountain.
-Uh, people would get up to the Switchback Depot,
which is on the heights, above where we are right now.
They would get on the car, but there's no power on the car
because the only thing that's powered
on the Switchback Gravity Railroad is the barney car.
Once the car got to the top, the barney car would stop,
but the passenger car would start falling
just with the force of gravity, picking up speed
until it was going 50 miles per hour.
Nothing on Earth went 50 miles per hour in the 1840s.
-The Switchback drew people from around the world,
including four presidents.
It's long gone now,
but trains remain a focal point here in Jim Thorpe...
a reminder of when coal was king.
Mauch Chunk. Jim Thorpe. Then and now.
A place where the past and present come together
in fascinating layers.
-I think we need this.
Yeah, definitely. [ Laughs ]
I would hope to keep this forever --
the train, preserve the nature around, everything.
-To experience the history of Jim Thorpe and the train,
and just to take in all of everything that this is,
it's been a great experience.
??
-Our next stop is here in Northwest Wisconsin,
where the air is so fresh, here in the legendary Northwoods.
We're about to introduce you to a determined family
that never says "we can't."
And over the last 25 years, they have created
some of the most unique rail venues in North America.
-Thank you. [ Indistinct conversations ]
-Dining, lounge, and sleeping cars
bring back fond memories of America's railroad past,
mostly only seen in history books and old movies today.
But a family in the small town of Trego, Wisconsin,
have re-created parts of that era,
along with introducing an array of new venues,
to catch the imagination of current generations.
-What you'll find here at the Wisconsin Great Northern
is absolutely unique in the industry.
Different services, different equipment.
Every time you come back,
I can pretty much guarantee it'll be a different experience.
-Different than any other tourist railroad
in North America
when you experience all the venues they offer,
with wine tastings and a historic dome car,
pizza trains for the kids, fine dining for the adults,
a one-of-a-kind bed-and-breakfast,
and on the horizon are a restoration of a streamliner
that seemed more a sky-flying rocket ship
than railroad-bound.
-People want something unique to experience.
And so that's what we're trying to present to the public,
is a unique opportunity that they can't get anyplace else,
whether it be by the service we provide
or by the equipment that we operate,
that it's different from everybody else.
-The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
has been running since 1997.
In those early days, it was a multitask operation
running on fumes.
-There were times when we just simply didn't have the money,
and she'd sell tickets in the ticket office, hand me
20 bucks out of the till. I'd run to the gas station
and get 15 gallons of diesel fuel,
drive around the back side of the train, and pour it in.
And that was enough to make the trip.
-Sheer persistence helped the railroad grow,
along with the elimination of a certain word.
-There is no such word as "can't."
You may say, "Oh, I can't."
Well, you just find a way to do.
And so it might be a convoluted way of doing something,
but you try your darndest to find a way to get it done.
-I don't recognize the word "can't."
Don't tell me it can't be done
because we'll show you how fast it can be done.
-Greg and Mardell's son, Alexander,
has grown up around trains his whole life,
and because of that, he bluntly dismisses
more popular teen pursuits.
-Cars suck. Trains rule.
And sports are overrated.
All right. We are now coming into the Namekagon River
and Veazie Springs.
-Like his parents,
Alexander wears a lot of hats on this railroad.
Tonight, he's a server and is impressing his guests.
-He was an anomaly.
An amazing young man.
-Yeah, another day of Alexander fan club.
-You see a little bit of that funny, ha-ha sarcasm.
He's always learned sarcasm. He's learned it good.
I like to describe him as my 83-year-old farmer.
He is very straight-faced around people
he doesn't necessarily know.
-Just a sponge.
He just picks up data and information
about the various pieces of equipment
like I can't even imagine.
He knows more about the equipment than I do.
-The family stays very busy doing a variety of jobs
for each of its unique trips.
There is one constant in all of them, though --
experiencing the splendor and beauty of the Great Northwoods.
-You can't beat the view. It's so beautiful in the fall,
especially when the tamaracks start to change.
-Through the pastoral landscape and deep woods, guests
take in all the beauty this trip offers.
One of the favorite spots is so serene and peaceful,
the train comes to a stop to allow all
to take in the natural wonders of the Namekagon River.
-When we stopped at the watershed earlier,
we just thought it was like someone had painted the sky
and the brush.
Like, it was just so beautiful with the sunset
and the moon over top.
I just love every moment of it, honestly.
-And what could add to these moments?
How about a meal prepared
and served in your own private dining room?
-The dinner was amazing.
It was just beyond expectations, honestly,
to get to spend time with family here,
to look out and see this painterly landscape
that just glistens and is golden with autumn light.
I just love every moment of it.
-Fine dining is just one of the many options here
on the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad.
-Here's your pepperoni pizza, Mr. Van Camp.
-Thank you, Jose. The other is their pizza train,
and it is definitely a hit with families.
-It's very unique. The kids love it.
They get to go on a train,
and they get to have their favorite meal.
They are cheeseaholics, being from Wisconsin.
[ Laughs ]
It's very nice to have --
have this here and keep that in our culture.
-Speaking of culture,
the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
also offers a sophisticated wine and cheese pairing trip
aboard the Sky Parlour, a 1956 dome car
that was once part of the famed El Capitan
that operated from Chicago to Los Angeles
on the Santa Fe Railroad.
-It's definitely a rolling piece of history.
It's really neat to be on something like this.
Unique experience, for sure. The wine was great.
The train ride experience was awesome.
-The various train rides run about 2 1/2 hours.
And for many guests, they can't bear to leave.
So leave it to the Wisconsin Great Northern
to offer something for them to stay --
a unique experience with their bed-and-breakfast package,
where delighted travelers ride and dine
and get to sleep overnight in their historic cars.
-It way exceeded my expectations.
It was first-class all the way.
The staff was awesome.
Last night's supper --
The hors d'oeuvres, the drinks, the food was awesome
all the way to the end, to the dessert.
Then we had our own sleeping car.
It was awesome. [ Laughs ]
And it was a queen-sized bed. First-class, first-rate.
-After a restful night's sleep
in one of the beautiful railcar suites,
guests awake to the wonderful smells
of a country cooked breakfast,
compliments of Chef Greg, truly a Renaissance man.
Mmm.
Mmm-mmm-mmm.
-We believe that we are continuing to create the history
of these pieces of rolling stock.
100 years from now, hopefully these cars will still be here
and still be usable because of our efforts.
-Of course I'm proud of all of this.
How could you not be proud of it?
'Cause if I weren't proud of it, I wouldn't be a part of it.
-Thanks to Greg and Mardell and Alexander,
along with the rest of their staff,
you can be a part of something very special --
experiences that are created by a dedicated family,
preserving and presenting many one-of-a-kind railroad journeys
deep in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
??
Next stop takes me here, to the Oregon Coast
in the beautiful town of Rockaway Beach,
home to Engine Number 25.
We're gonna introduce you to it,
the people that run it, and take you through some of
the most beautiful scenery in this part of the country.
??
[ Bell clanging ]
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad is a rarity
in the tourist railroad world --
a breathtaking journey by steam along the sea.
-The absolute beauty and the relaxation of it.
This is just what God created
out here in this beautiful country here of the Northwest,
and we're just enjoying every minute of it.
-You really can't ask for better.
We have views of the bay, of the ocean.
But then you turn around and you look on the other side,
and there's mountains that take up the skyline.
And even then, you see people waving
and walking by, and it's --
You can't ask for better. You really can't.
-True, you can see the ocean from your car,
but nothing compares to skirting the sea on steam.
One of the highlights of the trip
is the legendary sea stack called The Three Graces.
-Just something about them
when you come around that corner and you see them there.
You know, Arch Rock, it's its own enclosed ecosystem.
It has trees and plants that are thriving there,
even though it's completely cut off from the rest of the land.
The Three Graces themselves, each of
the individual rocks, all of them are bird habitats
where birds come and roost on them.
-Just the scenery and the ocean
and the -- the nice clear air that's out here.
Where we're from in Arizona, it's over 100 degrees.
It's just nice to be out of that in some -- some fresh air.
-This historic railroad travels the ocean's edge
on the north Oregon Coast.
It's a remote area,
and, thus, its charm, for you are swinging back in time.
-It definitely throws you back to a time
that was more romantic, slower-paced,
a little bit more class and elegance.
-In 2003, the railroad had about 2,000 riders.
Now they average over 45,000 a year.
And that number keeps growing.
-We've had people from South Africa, from Europe itself.
We just had somebody from Hong Kong last week.
-Young and old cherish this trip.
-Smith Lake is about 26 acres in size.
It's all freshwater. They stock it twice a year with trout.
-Bruce Cardin fills them with the history of the area.
-There you are.
Thank you. Over here.
-And conductor Lauren Lozier collects the tickets
from the happy passengers,
including some four-legged rail fans.
-I love the dogs.
So we allow dogs in every single car on this train,
so long as they are happy being there,
they're not gonna be aggressive or anything.
So that pretty much means you can have a dog
wherever you'd like on here,
and it means I get to pet many dogs
and get to see all different types of dogs,
which I love a lot.
-Being able to bring my dog with me
not only on the train,
but there's been lots of shops down here
that you can take him into.
I just like having him with me,
so it was really nice to be able to bring him.
[ Train whistle blows ]
??
-Pulling you through the magic is McCloud Railway Number 25,
a 2-6-2 configuration "Prairie"-type steam locomotive
built back in 1925.
Its grandeur even attracted Hollywood.
And this locomotive has been in several movies --
most prominent,
the coming-of-age tale "Stand by Me."
And like any movie star, old Number 25
commands a lot of attention.
You know, a steam locomotive is a fascinating thing
when you sit in the cab here.
But most people don't realize there's over 3,000 moving parts
throughout the whole locomotive and tender.
And it takes crews nearly two hours
just to get it ready for service.
-You can really see all the mechanical components
out there moving around. It makes noise.
It feels alive to an extent.
I know a lot of people say that, but, you know,
to many of us who work on them, they feel alive,
and they have their own soul, their own personality.
Why it is so popular here is, you have the engine
rolling into an extremely populated area,
a touristy area down at the beach.
They see this thing come in billowing smoke and steam,
making all this noise.
It draws people in. It's an attention grabber.
[ Bell clanging ]
??
-Speaking of historic attention grabbing,
when you get off your train ride,
you'll want to visit the nearby Tillamook Air Museum,
once a busy military installation,
but now home to a variety of combat aircraft
housed in Hangar B, a former blimp hangar
and the largest of its kind in the world.
-So the building itself is a huge part of our exhibit.
It's 1,000 feet long. It's 192 feet tall.
And the entire structure and trussing is all wooden.
There's really nothing like it.
One of our main goals
and missions is education through interaction.
So we have a lot of interactive displays.
We also have about 25 aircraft on display.
Some of the more prominent to note are the Mini Guppy,
which was a cargo aircraft used by NASA.
So one of our most interesting pieces is our F-14 Tomcat.
People really love to see that. It was featured in the original
"Top Gun" movie in 1986 with Tom Cruise.
-There's so much to do here on the Oregon Coast.
All this running around can sure make you hungry.
And the railroad has that covered for you as well...
with a three-course gourmet meal on board their dinner train.
-It just parallels Tillamook Bay,
and then it parallels Nehalem Bay.
And it's a beautiful ride going about 10, 15 miles an hour.
Nice and relaxed.
-It just makes everything slow down on the outside
because we're going so slow on the inside.
Just to be able to, like, slow down
and enjoy the person in front of me,
the beautiful food, the beautiful nature views
of the sunset and the gentle rocking on the train.
[ Bell clanging ]
[ Train whistle blows ]
??
Across Tillamook Bay, Number 25's whistle
echoes throughout this vast wonderland.
Steam swirls through the coastal forests of Sitka.
Summers come and go,
but personal memories are etched upon the rocks here,
never to be abandoned.
[ Bell clanging ]
-Well, I think the more fancy technology gets,
the more fascinating this stuff is.
So the education factor is really important to me
and the rest of the people in our organization,
try to preserve
you know, that dying era of our history.
??
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>> Welcome to the studios
Berman, a volunteer here.da
in Trego, Wisconsin, we are
with Robert VanCamp, who is
director right along,cer
Scenic Railroad journeys.
journeys and museums across
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-Rich Civil War history, beautiful mountain scenery,
the American bald eagle, and a luxury train
that lets you take it all in.
We're about to experience all of that
on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railway
here in Romney, West Virginia.
Bald eagle nests were first spotted
here back in the early 1980s.
In the decades since, this discovery has helped create
one of the most immersive railway adventures
in the country.
We've seen a lot of them --
I think probably 20 to 25 eagles.
It's the natural environment for them.
It's been fantastic.
-The highlight of the trip is always the eagles,
because the first thing that people ask us
when they come up to get on the train
is, "When will we see the eagles?"
And we have to say, "We never know where they'll be."
-There's an eagle across the river on the left
about a half a train length ahead of the engine,
50 feet up in that bald tree. Over.
-Train engineers on the lookout for bald eagles?
Clearly, this is no ordinary rail journey.
Since 1991, the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad
has been taking people deep into the Shenandoah Valley.
Locals love to ride this train and talk about its rich history.
-Track goes in areas that aren't close to the roads,
so you get a chance to see houses and homes
that you wouldn't ordinarily see
if you're driving around.
Like, our house here,
you know, we had the 7th Virginia camp there
during the Civil War.
We had Ashby die -- you know, die in our house there.
So it just gives you a chance to see history
that you wouldn't see normally here just by driving around.
-Intimately, the train weaves
through the small towns and historic farmlands.
Passengers become new neighbors.
And friendly waves abound.
You travel a leisurely 10 miles an hour
upon a steady clickety-clack of track.
-To me, the scenery and
watching the river in this area and going back
and seeing the history of the railroad
and visiting places like this,
and the leisure part of the ride.
It's a comfortable way to travel.
-Oh, it's like traveling back in time.
You know, you -- It's a slower pace
'cause your everyday life is just like,
boom, boom, boom. You're running, running.
And when you get on a train, it's just like things
just slow down and it's a nice relaxing day.
[ Train horn blares ]
-One of the highlights on this trip
is the crossing of the Sycamore Bridge.
It provides expansive views down the river valley.
It's also a place where one of the largest natural disasters
happened on this line back on November 4, 1985.
Torrential rainfall dumped over 6 inches in a 12-hour period,
washing everything in its path downriver to this bridge.
The debris trapped by it caused the water to dam up.
The immense water pressure pushed this bridge
to its breaking point, creating a wall of water
that destroyed everything in its path.
-In the trough, the -- the water rose over 60 feet high.
It poured into sector at 100 miles an hour.
And the state almost abandoned the railroad
because the trestles were gone, and in the trough,
the rails actually hung like suspension bridges.
-The railroad seemed damaged beyond repair,
but the state of West Virginia knew it was too vital of a line
for commerce and tourism and rebuilt it.
By doing so, it's helped save a part of history
and continued a magical gateway.
-It's just cool. And then to know that
there's only three ways in -- you know, through the river,
walk, or through the train. You know, that's kind of cool.
-The only thing in that trough is the Potomac River,
the railroad, and the eagles,
so it's just great.
It's the most fabulous scenery east of the Mississippi River.
-And taking on that journey,
a collection of historic passenger cars.
-We have four classes of service.
Our top service is the Superior service.
That's our club cars.
We have two of those cars, and we seat from 32 to 38 people.
They're in nice lounge chairs and comfortable seating,
you know, nice big windows.
-The second class of service, a Premium tabletop offering,
followed by Standard and Coach offerings.
-We've introduced dining
because we feel like with a three-hour trip,
the added service with the dining
gives people the experience of eating on the train.
We feel like we needed to add more than just a coach ride.
-And some of the railroad's recent acquisitions
helped them accomplish that.
-Well, we have two dining cars --
one, an ex-Southern Railway dining car, and a second car
that was a Southern Pacific dining car.
Those two cars provide us the kitchen space
that we need in order to prepare the food
to be able to distribute it throughout the train front
and rear for our four classes of service.
-I need prime rib with rice, salmon with rice,
going to Walters, party of two.
-And the meal offerings are amazing.
-Good morning, everyone.
Today is the all-day Petersburg trip.
We have 308 passengers on the train.
-Getting all that food out is Page Hines' responsibility,
along with a talented crew.
Talk about a juggling act here.
-My girls right now are serving the lunch portion
for our Superior dining for our
all-day Petersburg trip.
They are very skilled,
nimble at what they do.
-You kind of have to learn just to sway with it.
You learn to dance.
You got to have the moves.
You guys enjoy.
-After your meal, I highly recommend
coming out here to the open observation car.
This is definitely the best place to spot the bald eagles.
The bald eagle -- icons of the sky,
American symbols of strength,
courage, and freedom.
Once endangered,
now they have flourished in this area.
It's fitting that bald eagles fly here
with the White House less than three hours away.
But as a passenger on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad,
you are far from the big city traffic.
Just the song of the crickets
broken by the slow rumbles of steel wheels,
for this is a map of rail and river,
lone country roads and cornfields,
and, of course, the national symbol of America.
-We're creating an experience that they'll never forget.
Memories that last a lifetime.
??
[ Train whistle blows ]
??
-In Cumberland, Maryland,
steamy ghosts still roam loudly through century-old tunnels,
reminding us of another time when this area was truly
the genesis of transportation in the United States.
The story of the rail lines in this region
was linked to a race between steam and water power.
-Cumberland was really a very important city
and a transportation crossroads in many ways
because of the National Road, the C&O Canal,
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
-The canal was more of a family business,
with generations steering the boats
and manning the lockhouses.
That's all gone now.
[ Bell clanging ]
But these days, Mountain Thunder
continues spanning the past to the present.
And while much of this area's history
is preserved in static national parks and dusty
black-and-white photos, there is a sound from the 1800s
relentlessly echoing through the dairy lands
and high mountain ridges here.
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad,
with its massive steam locomotives
transporting dazzled passengers,
who realize time travel never looked so good.
Bill, you know, when I when I look at you,
I mean, I look like I could step back to 1940,
and you would be boarding me on my train.
-Well, that is what I try and portray.
And, in fact, that is my era.
I love the '40s and even the '50s.
So, yes, I try and dress the part.
But I hope you will explore the -- the car
and enjoy every feature you encounter.
-Conductor Bill Hatrick not only works
on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad --
He actually leases one of the vintage cars he has,
a 1949 Southern Pacific club/lounge car,
to the cause with one goal in mind.
-Yeah, that is exactly what I'm going for,
that they'll feel like they are on a time machine.
-There are many time capsules on this train.
One of them literally lifts you up higher than all the others.
If you want to experience all the beauty
that this rail journey offers here
on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad,
you got to take one of their dome cars.
As you can see, it's a panoramic view
everywhere you look.
-What I like about the dome car is the fact
that you can see so much more.
You can see in front of you. You can see behind you.
You can see up, the skies, the clouds.
It's such a lovely day with the white clouds
against the blue sky.
-"Ride the scenic line" -- That's the marketing phrase
used by the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
And oh-so true.
The 32-mile round trip from Cumberland
to Frostburg climbs 1,300 feet, passing by Lover's Leap,
skirting past the mysterious Bone Cave,
plunging 916 feet into mountain tunnel darkness,
and, of course, the legendary bend
at the famous Helmstetter's Curve --
one of the most treasured train photo opportunities
in the world. -So Helmstetter's Curve,
is -- is unique because it's a horseshoe curve.
If all the trees were cleared, you could see the entire train
from one side of the curve all the way around the farm
and all the way headed up the mountain.
It's really where the grade picks up.
It's really impressive to be riding in the train,
and you can look out and see the steam engine pulling you around,
and you're almost parallel to it.
It's kind of cool.
-There's a lot of reasons to bring a camera
when going on this trip,
not only for the beauty and history outside your window,
but also inside the train as well.
This is definitely a first for me
in my 30 years. I've never been on a train
that has a barbershop in it.
Bill has done a tremendous job re-creating
what it really was like to ride on these trains
back in the '50s.
-That was the -- the zenith of services
offered on the great first-class trains of old.
And I thought, "Wow, this is the car I want."
-Oh, it's a throwback to the golden age of train travel.
The '50s were the highlight of train travel,
and this car is impeccably restored.
It is like riding in a time machine.
-Now, while the barber chair is an interesting photo op,
the biggest star is literally at the front of the train.
-The 1309 is the largest steam locomotive on the East Coast.
It's a wonderful thing --
the years and years they spent on restoration
and just the enthusiasm, the talent that we have here,
the skill.
-This locomotive has been named the "Beast of the East"
for a very good reason. Look how big it is. It's huge.
And it was specifically built to haul out the coal
out of the West Virginia and Kentucky mountains.
It took the railroad seven years to rebuild the 1309.
The crew here is very proud of that accomplishment and enjoy
sharing interesting facts
about this locomotive with its patrons.
-This is the boiler. -Okay.
-All right? At the at the other end of the boiler
is the firebox.
It's a chamber that is surrounded by water.
-I really didn't understand how the wheels were turned.
I love steam trains, coal-fired trains.
They're loud.
They're big. And they have so many parts,
I understand, because it's pretty mechanical.
You know, there's water,
and there's coal, and there's fire.
And the steam turns the wheels,
and you can kind of see all the parts.
-She's just so unique.
She's the only engine of her kind operating
in the United States certainly of her size.
She is the largest compound Mallet,
which is complex steam engine talk,
but she's an incredible, incredible machine.
And we haven't put a train behind her here
at the Western Maryland that is heavy enough
to tax her going up the hill.
-? This train going up around Prospect Way ?
-Yeah!
-? I don't care what all the people say ?
-Who knows? Maybe even a song will break out
on your trip. -? Yeah ?
-You just need to come here and experience it for yourself.
-? Going up the trail on the 1309 ?
[ Rhythmic clapping ]
-There's something for everyone here
at the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad,
from a variety of passenger car classes and services --
they can offer you luxury to coach --
from dome views, to sticking your head out
and feeling all the elements this journey offers.
-Look how slow it's going.
We have plenty of time to just see everything around us.
It's beautiful. I love it. [ Laughs ]
-It's like a step back in time.
Like, I was born in the '50s, and this is just sort of
a neat experience seeing how they traveled back then.
??
[ Train horn blares ]
-It's all here for you, from historic diesel locomotives...
[ Train whistle blows ]
??
...to the largest operating steam engine on the East Coast.
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad truly offers a taste
of everything railroading for you to experience,
taking you away from the hustle and bustle
of the modern-day world
and allowing you to slip back in time for a few hours
to the golden age of railroading.
??
"We need to be bold, wild, and exciting
with something different up our sleeves" --
That's the motto of our next railway adventure.
I'm here in old Santa Fe, New Mexico,
about to take a journey that's filled
with entertainment, great food, music,
along with some breathtaking scenery.
It seems like a ride through a Hollywood movie set
on a giant steel dragon
snaking its way across the beautiful Desert Southwest.
But this is more than a scene.
It's a story that you're a part of as you ride
the Sky Railway through
one of the most picturesque landscapes in America.
The vivid characters that decorate the train
come from the mind of one of its owners,
George R. R. Martin,
the author and producer behind the "Game of Thrones"
and other blockbuster hits.
-The only thing George requested was a wolf
and a dragon.
That is an ode to his creation of "Fire and Ice."
-It was the largest project
that artist Joerael Numina had ever done,
taking him around 9 months and 700 cans
of spray paint to complete.
Not the kind of thing you'll see on any other trains.
-This humbles me to be able to paint this train
for the historical context that it's the first time
that graffiti culture and railroad culture
had come into alliance to create something beautiful.
And I hope that's an opening for more railroads to do the same
because railroads aren't going anywhere and graffiti
isn't going anywhere.
-The look isn't the only thing that sets this experience apart.
It's the stories, the people, and the history
that offers new generations a chance to experience something
that could have been lost forever.
-We get people that come from all over the world
that have been on dozens of trains,
and it blows our mind to this day,
and it's flattering to hear people tell us that,
"Wow, I've been on trains all over the country,
and this is the best one I've been on."
-The Sky Railway line stretches across 18 miles,
from Santa Fe, New Mexico,
to the tiny historic town of Lamy.
A group of investors, including Martin,
decided to give it another chapter in its rich history.
You see, years ago, Lamy was a bustling community
with several thousand residents
and an original stop along the line.
Some of the buildings there date back more than a century.
-Just, you know, 25 minutes' car ride
outside of Santa Fe, but...
much different architecturally
and just untouched, really.
I mean, it's never been built back over.
You know, this is authentic Lamy, New Mexico,
like it was, you know, 120 years ago.
-The Legal Tender may have started out as a saloon,
but nowadays it's known as a destination
for high-end cuisine.
-The Brunch Run is extremely popular.
They do a wonderful buffet spread.
And when you walk inside the Legal Tender,
you're just taken back in time.
It's -- The bar is from Germany. They brought it here by boat.
-If you truly want to relive the golden age of railroading,
I highly recommend you ride in this car --
the Acoma. It is gorgeously restored
with a beautiful Art Deco interior
that will truly give you a taste of what it was like
to ride in that time period.
-Well, this is 100-year-old car that has been
restored to its original beauty.
It's a different experience to get on a car like this
when it's on a railroad track
and then going in to see it in a museum.
It's just a remarkable thing to sit in a car
that has so much history
literally just oozing out of the side walls.
-This is a rare opportunity to ride in style
like the greatest stars of the Golden Age.
-You know, it's just the nostalgia,
I mean, the way that it feels.
It's just like it takes you way, way, way back.
And it's just -- It's been so much fun today.
We've had a blast.
-It's wonderful. Wonderful.
Slow things down.
Feel the rails. See the beauty outside.
Meet the people. It's the way life should be.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-And Native Americans used them in cooking.
They flavored their meats with that. And...
-Another popular trip is the Lore of the Land,
a back-to-nature trek that combines music and stories
that help you understand how the scenic wonderland evolved.
-I am a docent at our botanical garden.
I really enjoy ethnobotany. I love talking about that
along this trip, all our plants along the way,
the trees that we have, and how they were used historically
by the peoples of New Mexico.
[ Up-tempo music plays]
-And music is as much a part of the journey
as the surrounding scenery.
A ride on the Sky Railway is a feast for the senses.
No matter what class of service you book on this train,
everyone has access to the open-air car.
This is by far the best place to be if you want to absorb
all the beautiful scenery this trip offers.
-Everybody's favorite car is our flatcar.
It's my favorite place to be.
Most people, once they discover that it's there,
it's where they spend the rest of the trip.
-This is where you not only feel the breeze
and see its incredible sunsets --
It's a great place to relax.
It's easy to understand why artists,
writers, and creators have come here over the years
to experience the natural beauty close up.
It's breathtaking.
-New Mexico is the "Land of Enchantment."
And as the light changes, like, minute by minute,
you're watching it.
And you're out there with your hair blowing in the air.
You're on an open-air car.
You see everything.
It's incredible.
-Just like a novel,
the Sky Railway is creating its own story with many chapters,
interesting characters you love to meet,
exotic locations, and plenty of memorable moments.
-We have all these different experiences
that you can ride once
and you don't feel like you've really experienced
all that we have to offer, right?
And you can come back time and time again
and experience a different experience.
And we're always evolving and adding on to that.
-The Sky Railway is a rare chance
to see some of the most spectacular scenery
in the Southwest
while riding on a one-of-a-kind train.
The stories and moments it creates are timeless.
??
Journeys has inspired you
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>> That's right. And this
a sustainer. Sustainerecome
out from your bank account
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$20 you can go ahead andAt
then $30 and 35 somethingnd
for everyone, folks, make -A five-star culinary feast,
beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery all around you,
all while traveling on a true engineering marvel.
I'm on board the Royal Gorge Route Railroad
in Cañon City, Colorado,
which offers all of this and a lot more.
It's a sight to behold.
Colorado's Royal Gorge is a place only nature could create.
-It's one of the most spectacular train destinations
in the world.
I am passionate about that.
And I've ridden trains around the world.
I lived in Europe for a couple of years.
Nothing comes close to this.
-It's a total experience, with a variety of sights
and sounds along the way, with a view that inspired
one of America's most colorful presidents.
-What I like particularly about this canyon
is just the size of everything.
1,053 feet below the Royal Gorge Bridge --
raging rivers, tremendous rock formations.
You get a really good sense of the Earth's power
through the geology that's been created here.
-The walls of the gorge are steep,
stretching nearly 1,200 feet high in some spots.
At the bottom,
you have the rushing waters of the Arkansas River.
While that made it a challenge to build,
the natural beauty brings visitors from around the world.
-So we came all the way from Syracuse, New York,
and we wanted to see some beautiful views.
And the open-air is just really unbelievable,
the views you can see, and hear the sounds
of the water of the Arkansas River.
-It's different on any given day.
To see it in the wintertime, it's beautiful.
To hear people enjoying it,
when you're out in the open-air cars
and just listening to people, you know,
and talking to their kids about just the natural beauty.
-Most of the fleet here dates back to the 1950s.
They've all been renovated and rebuilt,
along with eight stunning Vista Dome cars
offering panoramic views from every seat.
-I've never had any kind of dining experience
like this before.
It's very open, and you get
to see all the good, great views.
And there's a river, so it's really nice.
-They also have these custom-built open-air cars,
which is a favorite for many.
-Just coming out here and just
being able to stand around everyone
and just take in the beauty of this -- this scenery
has just been an awesome experience.
Breathing in crisp air,
watching everything from the left and to the right side.
I mean, you can't get these views anywhere else,
so it's been an amazing experience,
just standing out here in the open air.
-If you're wondering how this railroad
keeps all their beautiful equipment in such great shape,
it's done here in their shops.
They have a skilled set of employees
that can pretty much do anything needed
to keep it all on the rails.
-We pretty much run off of about a 13- to 15-person crew.
-But that includes, you know, your locomotive mechanics,
your railroad carmen program.
We have HVAC technicians on staff,
as well as a master electrician.
-Going up. -Up.
[ Machinery whirring ]
-They even have the capability to lift and service
their locomotives, some weighing in at over 300,000 pounds.
-What I love is being able to pass on an item
to the next generations
and being able to make sure that it's safe, reliable.
I go home feeling proud that, you know, I made something,
you know, continue to run. Some children have a story
they're gonna tell their kids in the future.
-They'll also be telling others about the food
because it's one of the bright spots on this trip,
full of choices designed to leave everyone
with a full belly and a smile.
-We have done trains before, and this is the top of them all.
The waitress is wonderful. The atmosphere is beautiful.
It's a gorgeous train.
-We're somewhat new to Colorado,
and this is the great way
to see the absolute beautiful landscape,
take it in in such a relaxing way, and have a good meal,
some good wine, and be able to sit back and relax.
-The best thing I realized -- ease of coming in.
Romantic trip.
And the gorge is just --
It does not disappoint.
This has been a beautiful, beautiful day
with all the colors.
-Chicken, Welly, Welly, salmon -- heard!
-It's hard to believe they can pull off
this kind of variety and quality inside a kitchen in motion.
But it's an everyday thing around here.
-Okay, so this right here
is my Colorado-raised Atlantic salmon,
served on quinoa and wild rice.
-The service was amazing.
I would encourage anyone to come just for the service alone.
Our servers were so kind and gracious and attentive,
and that's very important to me,
especially on a special day like this for his birthday.
-The food was amazing. The people were amazing.
The other passengers were amazing.
So we've had just a blast all day.
-Yeah, for sure.
-I'm very proud of what I do, mostly because my guests
could come on board for, like, a birthday, an anniversary,
have a great experience, go home,
and they have a memory to look back on.
-Sir, I am above you, next to you, around you.
-Still, all the crew on board
have to contend with these tight quarters,
and it leads to a dedicated dance down these aisles.
-Oh, it's all kind of about spatial awareness.
We're all pretty good about telling each other "behind,"
"in front," "corner," things like that.
But after a while, with working with the same people over
and over, you just kind of get used to,
you know, they're gonna take this path
and I'll take this path, and you're used to the train
swaying, and it just makes it a lot of fun.
It also keeps it really entertaining for guests
to see us kind of weaving in and out of things, so...
-Kind of like baseball, it's a game of inches.
-The White Sox baseball team
posing [Laughs] in 1910
on this very place. -No way.
-Oh, my gosh.
-You can feel the history here,
especially when they take a moment
and stop on the Hanging Bridge.
When it was first constructed, the design was revolutionary,
made to carry trains through the narrowest part of the gorge.
Teddy Roosevelt stopped here in 1905
and took an iconic photo,
reportedly saying that the beauty and the views
bankrupted the English language.
-It's nice to come out here.
It's a different atmosphere. The air feels different.
The light's different than anywhere else.
You get on the train in Cañon City,
it might be sunny and warm. You come up here,
and you feel like you're in a different world.
-And it gives people a time and a chance to relax.
You know, we're all going
at 1,000 miles an hour, and I find
that people will hop on this train,
and maybe they've had a tough week at work,
maybe they're a little stressed,
but I guarantee by the end of the train ride...
It's just nostalgic. It's awesome.
It's everything Colorado that is packaged into a two-hour trip.
It's here.
-No matter how they discovered the Royal Gorge Route Railroad,
it has become a bigger hit than ever, and people
want to share the experience.
-So I think it's good to learn a little bit about history,
especially for kids this age, for families to see
how these old cars hold up so well over time.
Engineering is definitely one of the coolest things
about all these old cars and trains and things like that.
-The vintage technology that helps you get away from it all
ends up bringing people closer together.
-The most important thing for me
for the guest is that they walk off this train happy.
Not just satisfied,
but I want their expectations exceeded.
And that's how we train our staff.
You have to exceed expectations, especially in this day and age.
-The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is steeped in history.
But there's something new to discover here
on every single trip through this natural wonder.
??
-The Royal Gorge Route's two-hour journey
showcases some of the beauty of Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
Our final trip takes you on a two-day journey
that crosses the Rockies
and takes you through the stunning Red Rocks of Utah.
The Rocky Mountaineer trips in the Canadian Rockies
are known worldwide as one of the best rail adventures
in North America.
In 2020, they brought their legendary services
to the United States to showcase one of the most scenic routes
in the American West.
They are all unforgettable --
the views that encompass the most storied features
of the Rocky Mountains...
the food, from a menu that rivals the best restaurants...
and the memories, the friendships, and the stories
you bring home from a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer.
-All right, everybody, if we can raise our glass.
I have an Irish limerick for us.
"So there are wood chips. There are good ships.
There are ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships are friendships.
And may they always be made right here
on the Rocky Mountaineer." Cheers.
-Cheers! -Cheers!
[ Glasses clink ]
-Rockies to the Red Rocks.
It's a journey that starts with something you'll notice
about this entire trip -- a personal touch.
-Three, two, one. And go. Love it.
-Thank you. -[ Laughs ]
All aboard! -All aboard!
-It's in my nature.
I love to share my enthusiasm and my love for this --
this product, this rail. It's just exciting.
And it's the guests that give that for me.
I don't smile when I'm just sitting by myself. [ Laughs ]
It's truly -- It's truly everyone
that brings that out of me.
-The two-day trip lets you unwind along the way.
Just outside of Denver, you start to gain elevation.
The landscape starts to reveal a first look back over the plains.
Then you get to see one of the challenges of building this line
in the first place -- the tunnels that lead
directly through the mountains. It's not the kind of thing
you would experience flying overhead at 30,000 feet.
-You don't get up close and personal with the scenery.
The coyote we just saw
or the moose that went by an hour ago --
You don't get to see that.
And when was the last time you made a friend on an airplane?
I see people making friends and connections on the trains
all the time.
-Those connections just come naturally.
-It feels like an instant cocktail party.
People just start talking.
I've learned about people's dogs, their grandchildren,
the trips they've been on.
It's wonderful. And on top of that, the staff.
Amazing stories. Stories I would never have known
had it not been for the fact
that I was rolling through that exact part of the world
and that exact part of American history.
-46.
47.
-Food isn't just part of the trip --
It's something they celebrate.
Working with local ingredients,
the selections speak for themselves.
-Our lunch on the Rocky Mountaineer
is one of everyone's favorites.
We have our short rib in a green chili sauce
which has the flavor of the chilies,
not the spice,
or our baked chicken breasts in an apricot glaze.
Both are gonna be accompanied with a polenta cake,
broccolini, and roasted carrots.
-The staff works to create an experience
because this isn't just a way to get from one place to another.
This is the destination.
-So what you're looking at are the Indian Peaks
and the Indian Peak Wilderness.
We're also looking at the Continental Divide,
folks, right there.
-It's not like traveling where you're trying to get somewhere.
You're trying to make sure you make a connection.
Once you get here, you sit down, your needs are looked after.
You just get to sit back, relax. And we don't often do that.
You don't often in this day and age
get sort of put into a position where you sit back,
you relax, and you watch the scenery go by
while our team is providing that great service.
-It has exceeded our expectations,
really, just from the level, the courtesy
of all the personnel we've met,
all the service staff, the meals,
the scenery.
It's almost too much to try and put into words.
It's been fabulous every step along the way.
-The Rocky Mountaineer has offered a luxurious ride
through some of Canada's most spectacular terrain
for more than 30 years now.
When they chose to add a route through the American Rockies,
it had to be something special.
And it is.
-Well, I'm from Texas,
and we don't have a lot of mountains down there.
Being up here is just something that God made.
Phenomenal. Breathtaking.
You just have to come see it for yourself.
Just absolutely gorgeous.
-The range of scenery would be hard to match anywhere else,
and the only way to take it all in is on this train.
-The views out the window
are constantly changing, the scenery,
the topography, the geology.
-Having the opportunity to watch the sun
come up over the hills
and the rocks and illuminate them with the trees
and the fall foliage, all that beautiful yellow color.
And then the Colorado River
was literally steaming as the sun rose.
I mean, it was a pretty epic landscape.
-The cars are built for viewing, wide and open,
just like the landscape here.
-Our seats are extremely comfortable, plenty of legroom.
We have windows that are 6 foot wide, 6 foot deep.
And then, of course, there's a dome window above,
so you get practically 360 views.
When you're on a scenic train,
everything is about the view.
-So having a high-domed car where you can look up, you can
see out, you can cross the aisle,
you can look almost in every direction,
gives you the benefit of, like, a full 360
of enjoying the landscape that you're traveling through.
You don't have a narrow window. You can really take it all in.
-This trip offers something no other mainline train can --
an opportunity to step out in the vestibule,
open the door, and take it all in.
Here you can feel all the elements in your face --
the warmth of the sun, the fresh mountain air,
along with taking pictures without any glass reflections.
And that's why photographers love to take this trip --
to get that perfect shot.
-This is the only place
where you can just open up the Dutch door
and look out the side of the train,
watch it go around the curves,
and look right out on some of the rapids, the mountains.
-It's an exciting journey with something new around every bend.
You can just feel it.
-How do you describe these colors?
Aspen is a shade of gold.
I don't think I can actually find the words for it.
The blue sky is bluer than any blue sky I've ever seen.
These red rocks. The whole place is just --
It really does defy description.
-It's always nice to discover something you weren't expecting.
After a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer,
a lot of people say they were able to just relax
and get rid of a lot of stress.
This can only happen on a venture like this.
-It's such an enjoyable way to travel
that maybe we've lost a little bit of that.
We're always trying to get to a destination
and not enjoy the journey,
and this is a great way to enjoy it,
to connect, and to start off your vacation.
You arrive there relaxed and and ready to see some sights.
-The Rocky Mountaineer turns the Rockies
to the Red Rocks from a dream to an experience
that will bring you back in time and time again.
-And everything that we've been exposed to
so far today and will carry through tomorrow,
I can't put a price on that.
It's immeasurable.
It's absolutely fantastic.
??
Journeys has inspired you
to get out and ride theou
engineers level of $240 or
contribution, and we will
passes to visit themily
and the Illinois Railway
[MUSIC]
Museum in Green Bay is one
in the United States, withs
stock, seasonal train rides,
exhibits.r and outdoor
The Illinois Railway Museum,
Illinois, transports you to
travel aboard rolling time
ages enjoy exploring itsl
experience a ride on ad can
Your engineers level gift
both museums and includedr
You will receive theses.
set, the new eighth edition
downloadable computer
[MUSIC]ry.
rails with the Wisconsinthe
Make a gift of $360 or an
contribution at our
you'll have the choice of
or a fun meal for five on,
Wisconsin Great Northern
country's first private
can enjoy your own room as
plate, a cup of soup, andr
three pre-selected entrees.
A little later, you will
of a gourmet dessert. Along
beauty of the area as youhe
woods and the scenic deep
want to bring the kids,
package.ect the Pizza train
It's one of the railroad's
oriented train rides each
five guests and choose from
cheese pizza baked fresh in
included with your tickets.
Anniversary Show three disc
guidebook and theth edition
directory.le computer
Can't make up your mind on
[MUSIC]ackage to choose?
presidential level, with a
contribution of $35 peroing
family passes to theive the
and Illinois Railway Museum,
Wisconsin Great Northerne
train. Included with youra
Show three disc set, thery
guidebook and then
directory. And as an extra
include the great Scenic
tumbler. If you areink
just one of the exclusive
journeys, thank you! Gifts
level and you can chooseger
three disc set. The newow
the downloadable computeror
contribution of $120, or an
per month.ft of just $10
The anniversary three disc
you're watching now, along
Railway Adventures, plus
the broadcast, including a
creator and producer Robert
David Holt, as they provide
history of the series. If
research and read about the
in North America, pleases
edition guidebook.ghth
It's a complete and updated
tourist railroads, railway
related attractions. This
write ups, pictures, route
along with full contact,
Interested in visiting all
on your PC, Mac, or tablet?
Ask for the new
directory.le computer
It features the same
offers even more detailedt
pictures, and interactive
to over 500 locations,links
Thomas and Polar Express
you for your contribution
Wisconsin. When you make aS
these exclusive greatone of
thank you. Gift packages.
>> And welcome back to the
I'm Linda Berman, aonsin.
go away. We have so mucht
exciting railway adventures
different museums. And to
great information to you is
creator, director, producer,
you like that, the greath
And we are here because.
and people have wanted to
you've worked on for over
>> How come 30th
years. 30 years members,
programing possible. I want
that have contributed overu
your PBS station right here,
go anywhere. As Linda was
a little encore here. We're
great thank you gifts. The
Rocky Mountaineer. It is
Illinois Railroad Museum
the Wisconsin Greatin and
vouchers. So we wanted to
the packages that we have
the National Railroad are
Illinois Railroad Museum,
Great Northern Pizza orin
technically our last break,
We're going to show your.
during this this break. So
way less than a dollar a
to become a sustaininging
going to get a family pack
Museum and a family passesr
Railroad Museum. This is
Or at $30, you can takeen.
pizza train. We're going to
do two beautiful, elegantan
cook all that food on the
we're going to talk about a
We know you got a lot of.
can't figure it out, we'll
We're just going to give
>> And and throw in this
cooler mug, you know, hot
you're going to need this
because it I'm so excited.
love trains. We went on a
years ago. Still loven 53
important thing is we are
entertain. We are to to
We're providing travel and
the great scenic adventures,
[MUSIC]lroads.
the opportunity to takeyou
the railroads in person, to
This is how we connect with
well, thanks for calling.,
not that it's saying, we've
for you. We've got gifts
Illinois Museum, theo the
We have gifts that willm.
Railroad Museum in Green
will take you to thehat
Railroad in Trego. This is,
exclusively for you, our
thank you for pledging your
you can do it as a one time
a sustainer, which means as
money will come out of your
credit card to continueyour
Wisconsin, this is our way
contributions. You can call
talk to our wonderfuland
the studio right now.re at
make it all possible,to
Nick here at the Illinoiske
their passes, along withg
Greg Velan and his group up th u
group, the National Railway
me, I really take thisfor
to meet Nick, I think 12t
experience like you'ren
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conductor's uniform. And he.
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>> And yeah.our blood, Nick.
about if people arettle
where are they going to get
Railroad Museum? I mean,nal
gorgeous. I'm looking at
wigwag. I mean, you haveg
look at you now. You're the
America.collection in North
got over 500 pieces theree
quite the family place.
watch. I'll sit at theo
and the families. And it's
see, you know, what goes on
take to the place.ids take
experience and stay with us
vault, an old segment thate
you're seeing this footage
thing that was reallyne
switch box where he canhat
one track. You're going to
in this section. You're up
that we produced that wasce
But if you're tuning aw.
Wisconsin Great Northern
that they offer up there,
make your investment. Today,
ultimate train package for
family passes to the the
You also get the pass of.
Museum. We're going to talk
And then you also at $30.
the one time gift, we will
a pair of tickets to go onr
where we're going to talkn,
you've got a specialf
need to impress thatnd you
recommend it. Food ishighly
It's not catered. It'srain.
ordered from a restaurant.
or you can do the pizzaere
make up your mind for $35,t
one time gift of 420, we're
venues. You have a fullhree
vouchers, but a very short
our last break, your lasts
investment right now. So
becoming a member, renewing
[MUSIC]mbership.
important. You can go to
you become a member hereen
all the thousands of other
special guest going to tell
that National Railroadbout
>> I certainly do. I have a
Lemke, and I'll talk to you
remind you, no matter whato
will get our airwavesyou
airwaves magazine will come
Emma, who is the deputye is
the National Railroad at
Wisconsin. Now, tell me
>> Well, I can tell you as.
have in our collection, we
>> Okay. What does this
It's not a sandwich.g boy?
is one of the largest steam
world. It's half the length
carries 32 tons of coal,
And all that was done in 90
beast. It is incredible tor
wows everyone as soon asys
So it was a big highlight.
>> It's half a football
>> Half the length of a
>> Yes. And this is the big
>> This. It is a big boy.
just walk inside to see it?
can't ride it, but we can
inside the cab of our big
the knobs and whistles. Il
students who come on out to
memorize everything inan
incredible piece ofs an
>> And and what about any
all the old.rains? Are they
now on the television, wet
this is our GM aero train.
is currently on our list to
definitely go around. We
It talks all about it, and
and get a really coolund it
only two in existence today
[MUSIC] is at the museum.
exclusive. Yes, yes, very
offering a very exclusive
calling in pledge oro are
>> Correct? Yes. So we have
of six people can come ony
of our historic trains. So
boy, our Dwight D our big
locomotive, our aero train,
so many great passengerhave
them you can almost go into
>> So the idea is that when
support, this will bee your
year then, correct?a full
full year. So you can come
trains are always onave our
year round. And if you're
have a climate controlled
kind of get outside from
>> Perfect. So it's a great
pledge your support right
amazing opportunities.se
(800)2, three, six, three,
>> And truly one of the
I've ever been on where you
experience so much stuff is
Northern Railroad. I'm here
wife and his son. It's a
mean, I was amazed when II
I'm doing a bed andhe said,
one in the country. And I
what? And then I saw hisdo
works. And you're going to
segment, you know why
he's got, you know, he's
pizza trains, he's gots got
Greg, first of all, you're
beautiful parts ofst
>> Oh, yeah.
country. And we've got the
part of the Saint Croixis
that the train stops along
You know, we've got dinner.
from starting in 1912 all
We've got that glass topped
wine and cheese train.r
units. These are the the F
This is when they this isra.
to a steam engine thatond
And I'll never forgetep.
wow, you're right. You'ree,
So consider that $30ountry.
go ahead and get you a pair
dinner train and sit outs
get five tickets to go onu
can't make up your mind,
to give you the museumgoing
well. So let's head intoas
going to go to the Illinois
out of the vault for you.is
everything you cane
when David Holt was still
we're going to come and see
going to see all there
know you're going to you're
we got left. So let's head
right now for you.gment
been the backbone of ours
railway museums. Our next
over 200. They help restore
collection of railrgest
Next stop, the Illinoisica.
[MUSIC] Museum.
an hour's drive north westt
tiny farming community of
[MUSIC]
In an old cornfield five
museum that holds over 460a
It encompasses 280 acresry.
and nearly five miles ofrns
[MUSIC] track.
backdrop to eight Hollywood
sight to behold, attracting
the globe to see itsound
volunteers like Jeffth many
all.man to help present it
for a 255 departurethority
Grove.und to Kishwaukee
[MUSIC]duties today.
important jobs here.e most
control tower, he manages
that could be as many as
car, all moving around the
>> This is for real. This
railroading.pment. This is
showcase it all foro
particular pocket of the
coincidence.t was no
railroad history. There'sn
do that than Chicago,e to
hub of railroading for soe
>> Watch your step. Yeah.
grew up in North Chicago
time. So when he read inthe
Illinois Railway Museum
jumped at the chance.
streetcar. 144 I said, oh
Chicago streetcar. And I
>> And Frank's been here
and he's far from alone. A
volunteer at the Illinois
may separate them. Lifeions
all have one thing in they
Volunteers like Frank mayns.
new generation is carrying
>> You know, we all share
plays into it. You know, we
big old machines, which Ise
part of it. We because we
rest of the museum, we're
get the we're the boys with
>> You tell anyone if you
>> Fouling volunteer Nigel
the steam room, and heor of
rehabilitating the iron and
But what he loves most is
young people who want toh
alive and rolling down the
>> It's really great when
fascinated by these things.
is we're involving younggs
people in the shop where
techniques, and hopefully
that was more than I Well,
Well done guys. done today.
Museum started in 1953 as a
their dream has blossomeday
from any you'll experience.
collection, a stainlesse
railroading history, one
take a journey on.ublic can
Nebraska, Zephyr. The
to your left, please. and
goddesses, the Nebraska the
Chicago and Omaha, Nebraska
[MUSIC]47 to 1971.
hour.op speed 110 miles an
Today's passengers go much
feel of what this trainhe
days.ed during its glory
this train on the outside,w
whole thing. Head to toe.
It's almost like it was
right?ed before its time,
visitor or a volunteer,a
At the Illinois Railways.
[MUSIC] you can feel it.
piloting the Zephyr today,
here, he takes pride ins
[MUSIC]ey've accomplished.
us doing all all of what we
function. This equipment
would be stationary. You
go home. It's a lot morend
pieces of equipment, run
riding these old trainsjoys
else you can do it.place
you just have plain dumbif
succeed.entually you'll
But I think it's really a
see something saved and the
out. So I think the key tot
>> I thank them, and this.
the state of Illinois ino
grateful that I can come
sons.and see this with my
dedication from a fleet of
everything work here, but
all young and old, is this
on. Two steel rails. Thee
museum that's as beautiful
Stark, strong and colorful.
It's a testament to our
horsepower and the passion
present a little slice of
history, one that can be
the Illinoisll that visit
history, one that can be
isconsin,
where the air is so fresh, here in the legendary Northwoods.
We're about to introduce you to a determined family
that never says "we can't."
And over the last 25 years, they have created
some of the most unique rail venues in North America.
-Thank you. [ Indistinct conversations ]
-Dining, lounge, and sleeping cars
bring back fond memories of America's railroad past,
mostly only seen in history books and old movies today.
But a family in the small town of Trego, Wisconsin,
have re-created parts of that era,
along with introducing an array of new venues,
to catch the imagination of current generations.
-What you'll find here at the Wisconsin Great Northern
is absolutely unique in the industry.
Different services, different equipment.
Every time you come back,
I can pretty much guarantee it'll be a different experience.
-Different than any other tourist railroad
in North America
when you experience all the venues they offer,
with wine tastings and a historic dome car,
pizza trains for the kids, fine dining for the adults,
a one-of-a-kind bed-and-breakfast,
and on the horizon are a restoration of a streamliner
that seemed more a sky-flying rocket ship
than railroad-bound.
-People want something unique to experience.
And so that's what we're trying to present to the public,
is a unique opportunity that they can't get anyplace else,
whether it be by the service we provide
or by the equipment that we operate,
that it's different from everybody else.
-The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
has been running since 1997.
In those early days, it was a multitask operation
running on fumes.
-There were times when we just simply didn't have the money,
and she'd sell tickets in the ticket office, hand me
20 bucks out of the till. I'd run to the gas station
and get 15 gallons of diesel fuel,
drive around the back side of the train, and pour it in.
And that was enough to make the trip.
-Sheer persistence helped the railroad grow,
along with the elimination of a certain word.
-There is no such word as "can't."
You may say, "Oh, I can't."
Well, you just find a way to do.
And so it might be a convoluted way of doing something,
but you try your darndest to find a way to get it done.
-I don't recognize the word "can't."
Don't tell me it can't be done
because we'll show you how fast it can be done.
-Greg and Mardell's son, Alexander,
has grown up around trains his whole life,
and because of that, he bluntly dismisses
more popular teen pursuits.
-Cars suck. Trains rule.
And sports are overrated.
All right. We are now coming into the Namekagon River
and Veazie Springs.
-Like his parents,
Alexander wears a lot of hats on this railroad.
Tonight, he's a server and is impressing his guests.
-He was an anomaly.
An amazing young man.
-Yeah, another day of Alexander fan club.
-You see a little bit of that funny, ha-ha sarcasm.
He's always learned sarcasm. He's learned it good.
I like to describe him as my 83-year-old farmer.
He is very straight-faced around people
he doesn't necessarily know.
-Just a sponge.
He just picks up data and information
about the various pieces of equipment
like I can't even imagine.
He knows more about the equipment than I do.
-The family stays very busy doing a variety of jobs
for each of its unique trips.
There is one constant in all of them, though --
experiencing the splendor and beauty of the Great Northwoods.
-You can't beat the view. It's so beautiful in the fall,
especially when the tamaracks start to change.
-Through the pastoral landscape and deep woods, guests
take in all the beauty this trip offers.
One of the favorite spots is so serene and peaceful,
the train comes to a stop to allow all
to take in the natural wonders of the Namekagon River.
-When we stopped at the watershed earlier,
we just thought it was like someone had painted the sky
and the brush.
Like, it was just so beautiful with the sunset
and the moon over top.
I just love every moment of it, honestly.
-And what could add to these moments?
How about a meal prepared
and served in your own private dining room?
-The dinner was amazing.
It was just beyond expectations, honestly,
to get to spend time with family here,
to look out and see this painterly landscape
that just glistens and is golden with autumn light.
I just love every moment of it.
-Fine dining is just one of the many options here
on the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad.
-Here's your pepperoni pizza, Mr. Van Camp.
-Thank you, Jose. The other is their pizza train,
and it is definitely a hit with families.
-It's very unique. The kids love it.
They get to go on a train,
and they get to have their favorite meal.
They are cheeseaholics, being from Wisconsin.
[ Laughs ]
It's very nice to have --
have this here and keep that in our culture.
-Speaking of culture,
the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad
also offers a sophisticated wine and cheese pairing trip
aboard the Sky Parlour, a 1956 dome car
that was once part of the famed El Capitan
that operated from Chicago to Los Angeles
on the Santa Fe Railroad.
-It's definitely a rolling piece of history.
It's really neat to be on something like this.
Unique experience, for sure. The wine was great.
The train ride experience was awesome.
-The various train rides run about 2 1/2 hours.
And for many guests, they can't bear to leave.
So leave it to the Wisconsin Great Northern
to offer something for them to stay --
a unique experience with their bed-and-breakfast package,
where delighted travelers ride and dine
and get to sleep overnight in their historic cars.
-It way exceeded my expectations.
It was first-class all the way.
The staff was awesome.
Last night's supper --
The hors d'oeuvres, the drinks, the food was awesome
all the way to the end, to the dessert.
Then we had our own sleeping car.
It was awesome. [ Laughs ]
And it was a queen-sized bed. First-class, first-rate.
-After a restful night's sleep
in one of the beautiful railcar suites,
guests awake to the wonderful smells
of a country cooked breakfast,
compliments of Chef Greg, truly a Renaissance man.
Mmm.
Mmm-mmm-mmm.
-We believe that we are continuing to create the history
of these pieces of rolling stock.
100 years from now, hopefully these cars will still be here
and still be usable because of our efforts.
-Of course I'm proud of all of this.
How could you not be proud of it?
'Cause if I weren't proud of it, I wouldn't be a part of it.
-Thanks to Greg and Mardell and Alexander,
along with the rest of their staff,
you can be a part of something very special --
experiences that are created by a dedicated family,
preserving and presenting many one-of-a-kind railroad journeys
deep in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
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>> And thank you so much
[ Train whistle blows ]
??
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? We're ready to go ?
? See the world from the scenic railroad ?
? From the snowcapped mountains to the sunny coast ?
? On the "Great Scenic Railway Journeys" ?
??