Large Scale Central

Ultimate Rail Journey

General Discussion
#1

For the railroad enthusiast who has everything – here’s a neat vacation idea.

It’s billed as the ultimate rail journey – a new 53-day trip on some of the world’s most iconic trains, taking in some of the most astounding views on earth.

Travelling from London across the USA, China, Russia and back through Europe before returning to the UK’s capital, the Great Rail Journeys new Around The World In 53 Days Tour is an explorer’s dream.

With highlights including New York, Chicago, the Grand Canyon, the Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall of China, the Gobi Desert, Mongolia and Venice, the epic escorted trip is launching next year.

The cost? Only a mere £22k or $36,329.41 in US dollars.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2583610/Around-world-53-days-The-ultimate-Great-Rail-Journeys-rail-trip-covering-23-000-miles.html

Too rich for my blood, but what a way to ride the trains and see the world!

Bob

#2

The section thru Russia could get VERY interesting in the next few months…

I have my own Grand Tours in mind, all in the US, all with a few days layovers in the cities.

Option 1: LA to New Orleans to Chicago to Seattle to LA

Option 2: LA to San Francisco to Chicago to New Orleans to LA

Option 3: LA to Chicago to Boston to NYC to New Orleans to LA

Other trips: LA to San Francisco to Denver via rental car to Georgetown then Durango then Chama.

All I need is a winning Lotto ticket. Best I can do is try to plan on hitting Roaring Camp or Niles Valley RR sometime this summer.

:stuck_out_tongue:

#3

Vic Smith said:

The section thru Russia could get VERY interesting in the next few months…

I have my own Grand Tours in mind, all in the US, all with a few days layovers in the cities.

Option 1: LA to New Orleans to Chicago to Seattle to LA

Option 2: LA to San Francisco to Chicago to New Orleans to LA

Option 3: LA to Chicago to Boston to NYC to New Orleans to LA

Other trips: LA to San Francisco to Denver via rental car to Georgetown then Durango then Chama.

All I need is a winning Lotto ticket. Best I can do is try to plan on hitting Roaring Camp or Niles Valley RR sometime this summer.

:stuck_out_tongue:

I like option one, but starting in Spokane, Wa. Like Vic, I’ll settle for the Mt Hood or Mt Ranier RRs, though.

#4

…not one mention of “The Canadian”…

#5

We are very provincial, here in the colonies.

#6

Steve Featherkile said:

We are very provincial, here in the colonies.

Actually one of my buddies in New England can hardly wait for his trip on VIA 1 or VIA 2. He drools over my videos on the subject, too.

9,732 views for VIA #2 and counting.

SWMBO and yours truly are planning on a Kamloops to Winnipeg VIA trip for September.

#7

I would like to add the Orient Express to my list of train rides. In June I am taking a train ride from los angeles to portland and back in a pullman sleeper. i’m pretty excited about the trip.

#8

Rode the Indian Pacific from Perth to Adelaide last October. An excellent experience, now waiting to book on The Ghan to go to Darwin and back

#9

Awesome Phil. I rode the IP twenty years ago from Adelaide to Sydney on boxing day. Interesting experience.

#10

Back in '91 we did Sydney to Adelaide on the IP, Adelaide to Alice on the Ghan and Cairns to Brisbane on the “Sunlander”. Also did the Kuranda train.

Videos from the trip http://vimeo.com/album/229911

Filming was good, lots of cooperation from the train crews, until … we got on the Sunlander. Oh well, we heard the stories about those folks before we got to Queensland.

#11

Phil Creer said:

Rode the Indian Pacific from Perth to Adelaide last October. An excellent experience, now waiting to book on The Ghan to go to Darwin and back

I rode the commuter from Freemantle to Perth and back several times while my ship visited your wonderful country too many years ago. That’s how I found out who the foamers were aboard the ship (including the Skipper). I wish I could find the photos I took, but they are lost to too many change of station moves, I guess.