All Aboard - Train Rides with Discovery Tours

Passenger service can be traced back to within a few decades of railroading's first appearance on the American scene in the late 1700s.  Passenger travel via train began in the 1830s in eastern markets, reaching Midwestern lines in the 1860s.  Union Pacific inaugurated its passenger service in July, 1866.

The first passenger trains were undeniably crude; they seldom traveled more than 20 miles per hour and meals were eaten quickly in station dining halls.  Wooden benches were the standard seating accommodations and wood stoves furnished heat.  Air conditioning was nonexistent until the 1930s.  In the beginning there were even occasional wrecks until the intricacies of traffic control were perfected.  However, improvements and innovations soon began.  George Pullman's famous 'hotel' sleeping cars were in service before the golden spike was driven, and dining cars soon followed.  Regular train service from Omaha to San Francisco was launched just five days after the driving of the golden spike on May 10, 1869, and before the turn of the century innovations in design had produced a number of significant advances in passenger travel.

In the 1930s the introduction of the lightweight Streamliner passenger trains set a new standard for luxurious train travel.  The equipment you enjoy today is a remnant of those lightweight passenger trains that began operation in 1934 with Union Pacific's City of Salina.  The Streamliners' opulent furnishings, impeccable service and total comfort combined to lure customers to the rail.  Air conditioning, reduced noise, and a better ride distinguished these trains from the conventional steam-powered models.

In an era gone by people put on their finest clothes to travel.  Hearing a rich baritone voice bellow, 'All Aboard!' was to be expected when making long journeys.  For a brief period in the history of the country railroads were the transportation of choice.  Today railroads are more commonly thought of as a means to transport coal and other cargo.  People who travel by train do so on high-speed trains that zip them across hundreds of miles with ease.  While those trains do get the job done, train travel has lost the romance it once had.

Those looking to return to a simpler time with an authentic, old-fashioned train ride or a modern sleeper car should take a railroad trip with Discovery Tours.

Discovery Tours presents several rail tours in the U.S., Canada and Europe.  We have partnered with some of the finest train and tour operators, including Collette Vacations and Mayflower Tours, to bring you some of the greatest rail adventures available.

These particular trips will travel slowly enough to absorb the surroundings and the landscape.  Take a one-day or multi-day trip by motor coach.  Or, travel over seas and experience their #1 mode of transportation.  Whatever your desires in train-travel are, look to Discovery Tours to provide them for you.

Wherever in the world you board a railroad coach, the rhythmical beat of iron wheels and the gentle sway of the coach calm your mind, center your thoughts, and recharge your battery.  From the window of a train the world is a visual banquet.  People catch your eye and smile, imagining themselves sharing your journey.  Join Discovery Tours in reliving the past.

Discovery Tours, Inc.
24719 Dundee Drive
Cleveland, OH 44143

TOLL FREE NATIONWIDE
P:  (800) 590.2669
P:  (216) 531.8884
F:  (216) 531.8885
info@discoverycleveland.com

Home | Student Tours | Baseball Tours | Motor Coach Tours | Cruise Adventures
Natural Heritage Tours | Vacation Getaways | Group Travel | Railroad Adventures
Disney World Vacations | General Tour Information | Frequent Traveler Program
Travel Shows | Newsletters | Downloads | Site Map | Contact Us

Copyright © 2008 Discovery Tours, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Legal Notices.
Discovery Tours and find more to discover are service marks of Discovery Tours, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.