100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime

As a book reviewer, I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher or author to facilitate this review. I received no other compensation, and all opinions are always 100% my own.

There is always something romantic and intriguing about train journeys–at least for those of us who don’t associate them with daily drudgery. Images of British mysteries from the 1930s, visions of oneself drinking cocktails and dressing for dinner while the carriage gently sways past snow-laden Alpine peaks or through a rain-lashed green valley–it’s alluring. I have taken trains whenever possible in my life, and I love them more than cars or airplanes. You can stare out the window, read a book, stretch your legs, bring your own snacks.

100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime feeds the desire for train travel. Crammed with National Geographic photos of exotic views or plush cabins filled with comfortable seating, the book pulls you in.

It’s organized into six regions–from Europe in the North to Oceania in the South, and compromising Africa, the Middle East, North and South Americas, and Asia. Opening with the Orient Express (of course!!), each train is highlighted with a picture or two and a short article detailing the route and some delightful expectations for travelers, as well as descriptions of historic train stations or comments on the train’s mention in literature. Information is given on length of route and approximate price as well, and I will say that many of these trains are far beyond my budget. From the super luxe and expensive Japanese trains to a train populated with Buddhist monks weaving across the high plateaus of Tibet; from a 42-mile trip through Brazil’s rainforest to a ride that takes you from New York’s Big Apple to New Orleans’ Big Easy, there is something for everyone. I have even been on two of the trains mentioned, as I used to travel between Seattle and Portland my mother was alive, drinking coffee and watching daffodils blooming and swallows darting over the tree-blanketed hills.

100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime is a gorgeous book. It’d make a great present too, as the Dread Holiday Season is already upon us, for armchair travelers or those planning future trips. Highly recommended.