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From Emmy Award-winning producers, this captivating program celebrates North America's unrivaled railroad heritage — a continent that offers more railway adventures than anywhere else in the world. From thundering historic steam trains and elegant streamliners to refined dinner trains and the most luxurious rail travel on the continent, this program delivers an unforgettable journey through the very best of North American railroading.
North America's great railroad legacy was born on August 8, 1829, when Horatio Allen tested an English-built locomotive named the Stourbridge Lion in northeastern Pennsylvania. That historic moment set the continent on a course that would transform it into an industrial powerhouse over the next century. By the time the Civil War began, more than 60,000 miles of track crisscrossed the United States — a number that soared to over 190,000 miles by the turn of the century.
Today, the railroads that built the world around us are slowly disappearing. Nearly 60% of all track ever laid in North America has been abandoned or torn up. With every mile of track removed, another irreplaceable link to our past is lost forever.
North America's tourist railways and railroad museums are leading the charge to reverse that trend — saving, preserving, and celebrating our rich railroad heritage for generations to come. These are not simply train rides or museum visits. They are immersive, living experiences that engage all the senses — where you can see, hear, smell, touch, and even taste history in a way no classroom ever could.
In this program, we visit 17 of North America's premier tourist railways, and meet the passionate men and women who dedicate themselves to keeping this remarkable history alive and on the rails — so that all of us can step back in time and connect with our pioneering heritage.
Railways featured in this program:
Alberni Pacific Railroad, Port Alberni, BC, Canada
Columbia Star Dinner Train, Columbia, MO
Durbin & Greenbrier Railroad, Durbin, WV
Fillmore & Western Railway, Fillmore, CA
Grand Canyon Railway, Williams, AZ
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Dillsboro, NC
New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, New Hope, PA
Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, Alamosa, CO
Royal Canadian Pacific Railway, Calgary, AB, Canada
Texas State Railroad, Rusk, TX
Wilmington & Western Railroad, Wilmington, DE
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, Allegheny Mountains, MD
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, Carcross, YT, Canada
Café Lafayette Dinner Train, North Woodstock, NH
Lake Superior Railroad Museum / North Shore Scenic RR, Duluth, MN
Hiwassee Rail Adventure, Chattanooga, TN
From Emmy Award-winning producers, this captivating program celebrates North America's unrivaled railroad heritage — a continent that offers more railway adventures than anywhere else in the world. From thundering historic steam trains and elegant streamliners to refined dinner trains and the most luxurious rail travel on the continent, this program delivers an unforgettable journey through the very best of North American railroading.
North America's great railroad legacy was born on August 8, 1829, when Horatio Allen tested an English-built locomotive named the Stourbridge Lion in northeastern Pennsylvania. That historic moment set the continent on a course that would transform it into an industrial powerhouse over the next century. By the time the Civil War began, more than 60,000 miles of track crisscrossed the United States — a number that soared to over 190,000 miles by the turn of the century.
Today, the railroads that built the world around us are slowly disappearing. Nearly 60% of all track ever laid in North America has been abandoned or torn up. With every mile of track removed, another irreplaceable link to our past is lost forever.
North America's tourist railways and railroad museums are leading the charge to reverse that trend — saving, preserving, and celebrating our rich railroad heritage for generations to come. These are not simply train rides or museum visits. They are immersive, living experiences that engage all the senses — where you can see, hear, smell, touch, and even taste history in a way no classroom ever could.
In this program, we visit 17 of North America's premier tourist railways, and meet the passionate men and women who dedicate themselves to keeping this remarkable history alive and on the rails — so that all of us can step back in time and connect with our pioneering heritage.
Railways featured in this program:
Alberni Pacific Railroad, Port Alberni, BC, Canada
Columbia Star Dinner Train, Columbia, MO
Durbin & Greenbrier Railroad, Durbin, WV
Fillmore & Western Railway, Fillmore, CA
Grand Canyon Railway, Williams, AZ
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, Dillsboro, NC
New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, New Hope, PA
Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, Alamosa, CO
Royal Canadian Pacific Railway, Calgary, AB, Canada
Texas State Railroad, Rusk, TX
Wilmington & Western Railroad, Wilmington, DE
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, Allegheny Mountains, MD
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, Carcross, YT, Canada
Café Lafayette Dinner Train, North Woodstock, NH
Lake Superior Railroad Museum / North Shore Scenic RR, Duluth, MN
Hiwassee Rail Adventure, Chattanooga, TN