Rolling Down the Track

March 3 marked the 182nd birthday of George Pullman, an inventor and industrialist who developed the railroad sleeping car in the 1860s. His invention was not only personally profitable -- it also revolutionized railway travel.

The first passenger-carrying vehicle powered by steam made its debut on December 24th, 1801, driven down a road in Cornwall, England -- the invention of Richard Trevithick. In 1804, Trevithick had his chance to try his latest steam engine on an actual railway. Pulling five wagons, filled with ten tons of iron and seventy people, the steam engine made it over nine miles, averaging a speed of somewhere around 5 mph. As the decades went on, trains transformed from innovative but impractical novelties to the primary mode of long-distance travel the world over.

Nowadays, of course, cars and planes have become the travel option of choice for those journeys that would have once been invariably made by railway. But it's important not to underestimate the impact railroads have had on the world. For the first time, land travel was achieved at a speed faster than that of a horse. It was a technological advancement that helped usher in the modern industrial age.

Traveling by train today is one of the rarer-chosen methods, but it can also be one of the most fun!  Read on for some recommendations about scenic railways you can visit -- or travel on -- today.


-- The Allegheny Portage Railroad

MS. B: In the early 1800s, travel and trade routes depended on Conestoga wagons. But with innovations like the Allegheny Portage Railroad and the Horseshoe Curve, Pennsylvania had a transportation innovation that would alter the state's history. Opened officially in 1834 to rail traffic, the Allegheny Portage Railroad was the missing puzzle piece that completed a direct-access train route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

"The Portage" was the finishing touch on the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal. The canal was begun in 1826 to compete with New York's new Erie Canal system. But Pennsylvania had one hitch to contend with that New York did not: the Allegheny Mountains. Figuring out how to build a canal system across the state, with a mountain range in the middle, presented a baffling problem.

A stop on the Allegheny Portage Railroad -- the Lemon House.

In the end, a railway system of ten incline planes were built to form the Portage, allowing canal-traveling cargo and passengers a way through the Allegheny Mountains. The new transportation cut travel time from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh from 23 days (by wagon) to four (by train).

The Allegheny Portage Railroad is now a national historical site, cared for by the National Park Service. Growing up as I did in Central Pennsylvania, I spent a good chunk of my childhood enjoying the hiking trails around the park. You can visit the canal museum, check out the Lemon House (once a tavern stop for passengers), or simply hike the wooded paths surrounding the remains of the canal tracks.

The Lemon House today.

Read more about the history of the Allegheny Portage Railroad here.


TRACY: 

Some of my favorite scenic railway trips are below:

-- Mt. Washington (NH) Cog Railway

This cog railway takes passengers to the top of Mount Washington to see the beautiful views of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Unfortunately, when my husband and I rode it a few years ago, we didn't get to see much. It was cloudy and foggy. We still enjoyed the ride!


-- Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad (WV)

Located in Elkins and nearby Durbin,  this railroad takes passengers through the Cheat Mountains of West Virginia. We rode the New Tygart Flyer, which was a four-hour trip along the Cheat River. Gorgeous! One of the most interesting rides they offer is what they call a Castaway Caboose. The train will take you along the Greenbrier River, where they will leave you and the caboose for the evening. Some day I would like to do this!


-- Zig Zag Railway (Australia)

When I was lucky enough to travel to Australia a few years ago, we found out about this railway. This trip took us through the Blue Mountains over sandstone viaducts. It was an amazing and beautiful ride. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be running anymore, due to finances.


-- Knox and Kane Railroad (PA)

This was one of the very first scenic railroads I ever went on. It took riders from Kane to Marienville (in north central Pennsylvania) and back, after going over the Kinzua Bridge. This was a lovely trip when I went in the fall many years ago. Sadly, after a tornado severely damaged the bridge in 2003, the state had to shut down the bridge. Eventually, the railroad had to stop as well.


Other scenic railways:


OHIO:

-- Cuyahoga Valley River Railroad


WEST VIRGINIA: 

-- Cass Scenic Railroad Park


PENNSYLVANIA:

-- Strasburg Railroad

-- Gettysburg Rail

-- Steamtown National Historic Site

-- New Hope and Ivyland Railroad


DELAWARE:

-- Wilmington and Western Railroad


NEW YORK:

-- Adirondack Scenic Railroad


MARYLAND:

-- Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

The Allegheny Portage Railroad historical site

-- Post by Tracy and Ms. B