This is a beautiful book of spectacular train journey from around the world. The photographs are gorgeous. The text is always informative, and the pictures are well laid-out. Riding trains can be romantic and can take us back to an earlier era of opulence.

The first railway visited is the Toy Train of Darjeeling. I remember seeing a Cinerama movie in the 1950's where the audience got to expeience the hair-spin turns of this mountainous railway in northeast India. Then comes the Orient Express of Agatha Christie and Graham Green fame. One can ride this again in various luxurious versions in Europe, although I am not sure that the full trip to Istanbul is available. The picture of the waiting room in Milan, Italy, was striking. The Canadian probably takes the most scenic transcontinental route in Canada. The two-page spread picture of the train along a calm waercourse is particularly satisfying.

The Trans-Siberian is the longest train ride anywhere with a sense of intrigue and distant exploration. The Uganda Railway in Kenya is not often written about, but tworth the effort as it appears to be one of the few steam railroads left. The Train Blue was the famous luxury train connecting Paris with the Riviera. It no longer runs in its glory, as the TGV era brings a different modality to our travel. The Blue Train is South Africa's luxury train between Cape Town and Johannesburg -- a truly luxurious train in regular service. The author believes that the California Zephyr is the best Amtrak train in the United States. It certainly has beautiful scenery and the trips is a big step up from much of Amtrak.

The Palace on Wheels is a tribute to fine passenger trains in Rajasthan in India, and runs today as a luxury loop from New Delhi to Agra, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and other places. The Eastern and Oriental Express is a beautiful train connecting Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (Malysia) with Bangkok in Thailand. This is a new service created in 1993, but obviously worth the detour. Railways of the Andes are two train lines which climb the Andes Mountains. One connects Callao on the coast with Huancayo, 3200 meters above sea level; the other connects Puno on Lake Titicaca with Mach Picchu. The scenery and the ride is exotic. ( )

This book profiles a number of major train journeys around the world, including travel in Europe and America. This is one of the best books I've read for train illustrations and other grahpic ephemera. One wishes that the introductory essays to each section were longer. In essence, this is a coffeetable book for those interested in the history of trains. ( )

This book profiles a number of major train journeys around the world, including travel in Europe and America. This is one of the best books I've read for train illustrations and other grahpic ephemera. One wishes that the introductory essays to each section were longer. In essence, this is a coffeetable book for those interested in the history of trains. ( )