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Tourist Railroads, Where You Can Simply Enjoy A Train Ride While Taking In The Passing SceneryAnother facet of railroad museums is tourist railroads. Perhaps the one key advantage they have over museums (at least those without operating equipment) is that tourist lines actually come to life with functioning railroad equipment! Even better, these non-freight hauling railroads (most of them anyway) are meant to give you, the visitor, the enjoyment of what it’s like to experience a trip aboard a train. Sometimes, as in the case of the Strasburg Railroad, the journey is also meant to take you back in time to see what riding a train was like years ago pulled by authentic steam locomotives while other times diesel locomotives do the job (some historic themselves). One thing almost all tourist railroads have in common, however, is the breathtaking scenery afforded along their respective routes.
While most tourist lines do not haul freight they do earn revenue from their services of hauling passenger, many as 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporations. Albeit, this does not necessarily mean they are profitable, actually quite the contrary. As with most railroad museums, tourist railroads are almost always in a pinch for cash, whether it be to restore historic equipment, upgrade/maintain its track, or just simply pay the bills. Every little bit helps so if you have a tourist railroad you enjoy riding or simply want to help one out they could very much use your donation, whether it might be of the monetary variety or just by volunteering.
Whatever your interests might be there is a whole host of tourist lines operating around the country to find what you’re after. And, hopefully, the railroads I have highlighted below will also help you in making your choice. The railroads themselves are broken down by the geographic area of the country in which they are located (i.e. north, south, east, or west). Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad Westrn Maryland Scenic Railroad Great Smoky Mountains Railroad The My Old Kentucky Dinner Train - RJ Corman Railroad Seminole Gulf Railway Excursions Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad
In any event, whatever tourist railroad you decide to ride, just remember to have fun, take in the scenery, and enjoy the trip as few other things are as entertaining and relaxing as a train ride! Steam locomotives are especially a sight to behold in operation so if you have never seen one for yourself please try if the opportunity presents itself, as they are something to see! Lastly, for information on tourist railroads not covered above please click here for a directory of museums and tourist railroads in your area.
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