All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide

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"This comprehensive guide will assist the traveler in planning an excursion and executing it with minimum effort and maximum pleasure" -Library Journal All Aboard-first published in 1995, and here completely revised and updated-is much more than just a mile-by-mile scenery guide for train travelers. It will make any trip smoother and more enjoyable with its insightful travel trips and information about how railroads operate. With trains attracting new riders in record numbers, the time is perfect for a new edition of All Aboard. All Aboard is more than an ordinary travel guide. The author tells us how and why the first railroads came about, describes the building of America's trans-continental railroad, and explains how individual trains are operated. He also offers advice that can only come from a veteran traveler: booking trips, finding the lowest fares, avoiding pitfalls, packing for an overnight trip, what to do on board, whom to tip and how much. This new, fourth edition includes a new chapter about eight major railway stations, and is updated throughout with new information and photographs. It discusses Amtrak's new locomotives and Viewliner sleeping cars, changes in rules regarding pets and bicycles on American trains, and much more. Jim Loomis writes frequently about train travel for Sunday newspaper travel sections and has ridden every one of Amtrak's long-distance trains multiple times, logging nearly 200,000 miles. He is a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Railroad Passengers.

Series: All Aboard

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 4 edition (January 1, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1569761760

ISBN-13: 978-1569761762

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.5 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #144,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #19 in Books > Travel > Food, Lodging & Transportation > Railroad Travel #41 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Transportation > Railroads #57 in Books > Travel > Canada > General

Excellent guide on train travel, from start to finish you won't go wrong in choosing this updated 4th edition (published Jan 2015) book to help you navigate around trains! From the history of trains and train travel in North America (Canada, United States, Mexico), from steam, to gasoline and diesel to electric and MagLev, freight and passenger travel, historic and scenic routes, anatomy of a train track and the different types of train 'cars' (engine, baggage, dining, lounge, coach, business, sleeping, freight, caboose, etc.), the personnel who operate and dispatch the trains, how to properly plan for and book a train trip, what to pack, what to expect, pictures and illustrations of cars/sleeping quarters, fares and fees, baggage rules, do's and don'ts, tips, route recommendations, discounts, special needs, etc. He includes very detailed routes with time tables, mileage, station stops, things of interest to see and do along the way, contact information and websites for more information. I look forward to using this information to help me plan and book a train trip for my young family. Thank you Mr Jim Loomis for writing and updating a wonderful and useful book!

I benefited from reading this book.I found 'All Aboard' to be more than a mere guide to train travel. Rather than being written in the wooden, formal narrative of most guidebooks, the book had a human touch which made it much more readable, though no less inclusive and informative. Likewise, the book offers a multifaceted look at rail travel, expanding beyond pure travel logistics into the history of trains and their uses, and other side-notes which added some unexpected entertainment value to the book's raw resourcefulness. One of the exceptional travel guides I've read.Thanks to the author and the publisher.

Purchased the 3rd edition in Nov. '14 prior to my first overnight, long-distance trip on Amtrak. Book is good for someone who has never used Amtrak for overnight, long-distance as it explains, in detail, but certainly not fully, all the basics of train travel today, the big and very important differences between Coach and Sleeper Class, and expands on the history of train travel & equipment.New, 4th edition is basically 3rd edition verbatim, containing several new chapters which will be of primary interest only to dedicated rail aficionados.My most critical comment on this book in general is that Loomis is unabashedly a "Train Aficionado Extraordinaire", so much so he leaves his readers, especially first-time Amtrak riders with wholly unrealistic expectations and as such, wholly unprepared for the reality of what to expect on Amtrak, that reality being trains are late arriving virtually 100% of the time, with missed connections are the norm. On time trains are the exception, not the rule.Also, my experience was that incompetent, nasty, rude, obnoxious, lazy, dishonest and racist Amtrak employees are the rule, not the exception, as Loomis would have you believe. Loomis goes so far in defending Amtrak that he writes, imploring readers NOT to complain to their Congressional Leaders responsible for funding Amtrak (even though it's "Your Tax Dollars at Work") but suggests contacting Amtrak Customer Service with complaints about bad service and lousy Amtrak employees, which, in my first-hand experience is a total waste of time, effort and a wholly frustrating experience.A much better, much more honest and far more useful read is "Waiting on a Train" by James McCommons.At least you'll know better and be far more prepared for the reality of what you're likely to experience using Amtrak and will be much better informed before deciding to "Roll the Dice-Crap Shoot" with an .."Amtrak Adventure?" . Despite McCommons' book being published Oct. 2009, little, if anything McCommons writes of has changed since the books initial publication.It's certainly not the "Rose-Colored Glasses", "Wishful, Fantasy-Nostalgic Train-World" Loomis seems so wanting all of his readers to reside in.

My husband and I are setting off on a big train trip in a couple of weeks; we’re doing the ViaRail trans Canada journey on The Canadian. Being the avid reader that I am, I have been reading some books for advice.One of the main books I read for my research was All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide by Jim Loomis. This is a very detailed guide to train travel in North America and includes everything from tips on how to get the best fare to the facilities you’re likely to have onboard. Although I have travelled by train many times before, this is my very first long haul train journey and I found this book invaluable.Equally importantly, Loomis’ passion for train travel comes across very well and that only served to enhance my excitement for our trip.

As I am shortly taking a lengthy Amtrak trip, I purchased this book to get some idea of the experience. I got all that and much more - history, commentary on Amtrak's future, Canadian trains, and detailed (very detailed) description of the journey on various trains. I enjoyed it immensely.

This book is extremely well written, and very engaging. It really talks about all aspects of rail travel in North America. Whenever I started reading this book, I just could not stop!! I highly recommend this book for anyone who is a train enthusiast, someone who wants ideas for a train trip, or is going to take a train trip and wants some helpful tips.I love this book!!!!!

I am about to take a train trip & wondered what to expect. Mr Loomis thoroughly enlightened me. He related the history of passenger train travel in the U.S. & how we got to Amtrak. He described the various routes on which Amtrak provides service & the specific services available on each route. He devotes a whole chapter to Life On-board the train. My favorite feature was the diagrams showing lay-outs of the different cars on each route. I could see how the sleeping car is organized & the dining car. He also has information on Canadian & Mexican trains. Very informative!

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