The Best New Railroad Travel eBooks To Read In 2025

Stunning original photographs of railways around Chicago offer highlights of the exciting Midwestern city. In his 1914 ode to Chicago, Carl Sandburg referred to the city as the ‘Hog Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation’. What was true over a century ago is still true today—Chicago is the heart of America’s railroads. A dizzying array of rail lines radiate out of Chicago serving as vital gateways for goods from the Midwest to the rest of the nation and the world.

An amazing variety of railroads also interchange huge amounts of tonnage at many yards surrounding the city. Amtrak uses Chicago as its national hub, and Metra commuter trains convey over a quarter million people from home to work-and back on weekdays. On average, over 500 freight trains and 700 passenger trains travel through Chicago every day. This colorful tour, lavishly illustrated with Mike Danneman’s stunning photographs of Chicagoland, offers highlights of the exciting Midwestern city.

CHICAGO TO LOS ANGELES. ‘THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF’ – A FABLED ADVENTURE. Experience this legendary Amtrak journey between Chicago and Los Angeles with "Explore America on Amtrak's Southwest Chief." This must-have guide serves as your personal tour companion, showcasing the breathtaking scenery, sculptured landscapes, and unique history that unfolds outside your window. Immerse yourself in captivating tales of cowboys, Native American tribes, ghost towns, and colonial heritage as you retrace the paths of Spanish Conquistadors, explorers, and pioneer wagon trains through eight diverse states.

This transcontinental adventure is made even more memorable as you track your progress and discover hundreds of points of interest along the way. From vast agricultural fields to vibrant cities and historic adobe missions, from vast deserts with majestic mesas and red canyons to the Old Santa Fe Trail and Route 66. This essential guide brings the Southwest to life with every turn of the page. You won't want to start this evocative trip reflecting the golden age of rail travel without "Explore America on Amtrak's Southwest Chief" by your side. “Explore America on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief” brings to life the stories, trivia, quirkiness, and contradictions of the West. Using short, whimsical insights and fun facts, Baker enlivens hundreds of places in an easy-to-read format to reveal hidden gems. For each scheduled stop on the journey, it highlights:What is special about the place?Why is it here?What’s happened here?What’s quirky and fun about it?Which famous people come from here?What’s of interest between stops?It turns a long scenic journey into a fascinating transcontinental adventure. Don’t leave the station without it. TABLE OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. 1. ALL ABOARD AMTRAK! What is Amtrak? What are the Superliners? Seating, Sleeping, and Sightseeing on Amtrak. Who’s Who? 2. THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF. History of the Southwest Chief. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway. Why Ride the Southwest Chief? The Southwest Chief Schedule. The Southwest Chief Stations. 3. HOW TO USE THIS BOOK. 4. SIGHTSEEING ABOARD THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF. CHICAGO, IL (CHI). Chicago: Train City USA. NAPERVILLE, IL (NPV). MENDOTA, IL (MDT). PRINCETON, IL (PCT). GALESBURG, IL (GBB). FORT MADISON, IA (FMD). LA PLATA, MO (LAP). Santa Fe Trail: Highway to the Southwest. KANSAS CITY, MO (KCY). LAWRENCE, KS (LRC). TOPEKA, KS (TOP). Long Cattle Drives and the Chisholm Trail. NEWTON, KS (NEW). HUTCHINSON, KS (HUT). Six Myths About Cowboys. DODGE CITY, KS (DDG). GARDEN CITY, KS (GCK). LAMAR, CO (LMR). LA JUNTA, CO (LAJ). Yes! This Was Once Mexico. TRINIDAD, CO (TRI). RATON, NM (RAT). The Harvey Girls Tamed the West. LAS VEGAS, NM (LSV). The Navajo Nation: America's Most Populous Native People. LAMY, NM (LMY). Get Your Kicks on Route 66. ALBUQUERQUE, NM (ABQ). GALLUP, NM (GLP). WINSLOW, AZ (WLO). FLAGSTAFF, AZ (FLG). KINGMAN, AZ (KNG). NEEDLES, CA (NDL). BARSTOW, CA (BAR). VICTORVILLE, CA (VRV). SAN BERNARDINO, CA (SNB). RIVERSIDE, CA (RIV). FULLERTON, CA (FUL). Why is Hollywood in Los Angeles? LOS ANGELES, CA – UNION STATION (LAX). 4. SOUTHWEST CHIEF TRIVIA QUESTIONS. 5. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES. 6. OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES. 7. ABOUT THE AUTHOR. ALL ABOARD!

Rails and Wonders: Unforgettable Train Journeys Across the Globe is a captivating book that takes readers on a thrilling adventure through the magical world of train travel. From the excitement of stepping aboard a train to planning your own epic journey, this book explores the landscapes, history, and cultural significance of train journeys. With chapters dedicated to the old world charm, coastal escapes, cultural expeditions, epic landscapes, historic routes, and uncharted territories, it offers a kaleidoscope of experiences that will leave readers inspired and yearning for their own unforgettable train adventure.