The Railroad

A trip on board the railroad begins, as so many memorable journeys do, with a departure from one of North America's storied cities. Cities like Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle, Vancouver or Montreal. There, you board an inviting line of railway passenger cars — gleaming royal blue and gold along the quarter-mile consist. As you embark on the deluxe train, the excitement you feel is an inherent component of the American rail journey experience.

Greeted by formally-attired attendants, you enter a fleet of rail cars created at the height of luxury rail travel — the 1940s and '50s, putting you at ease on an adventurous trip. Each car has been restored to a new level of contemporary splendor. Tied together as a unit by the dark mahogany walls rubbed to a matte luster and adorned with delicate marquetry. Done up in varying shades of lighter wood, they are reminiscent of the early and long tradition of George Pullman, the first builder of luxury rail cars.

In no time the train begins to glide forward, bound for sites carefully selected to accentuate the natural beauty and dramatic history of North America. Whether you settle into the comfort of your room, or remain with fellow travelers in one of the lounge cars or the new dome car, it occurs to you that there is nothing like a train.

Whether racing along the shoreline of the Pacific Coast or while drifting past the sprawling fields and ranches that make up central Alberta, the train brings you closer to the destination. The railroad brings you back to a time of unhurried travel. A time when the journey was as enjoyable as the final destination. A time when dining by rail was a great way to pass the time and take in the beautiful surroundings. Join us and experience the romance of the past.

Painted in their signature blue-and-gold, the 16 vintage carriages were assembled from museums and private collections throughout America. Each departure carries approximately 100 passengers who are attended to by a highly trained, professional staff and crew. While traveling aboard, chances are good that you will find a bridge game in progress in one of our club cars - or you may want to just settle into a comfortable chair, relax in the piano lounge and listen to pop, jazz and old-time favorites. Is there a better way to conclude an absolutely wonderful day?

   

Personal Enrichment

Larning never ends. Whether your interests lie in wine-making, Native American history, or anything in between, the train journey presents inexhaustible opportunities for personal enrichment. Both on the train and off, the programs are eclectic, diverse and planned to the last detail. We engage the services of hand-selected scholars, naturalists, curators, and local guides. Their expertise broadens our understanding and appreciation of the cultural, historic and natural diversity we meet in towns, cities and wilderness areas along the rails.

Our onboard comprehensive lecture series takes place in the dome car. The actual topics we cover depend entirely on the trip. Passengers on the Pacific Coast Explorer might delve into the art of pairing Napa Valley wines with California cuisine. In the Best of the Canadian Rockies, it's the anatomy of a glacier. The Antebellum South lends itself to Civil War strategies and Savannah's architecture.

In Autumn in New England & Quebec, a discussion of artist Norman Rockwell's interpretation of American culture might follow a presentation on why leaves turn from green to gold and red in the Fall. We recognize that some travelers like to be engaged; others just want to relax. So we've built choice into the itineraries –– passengers on the same trip can pursue various interests.

   

Fine Dining

Reminiscent of a scene from a glamourous 1940s Hollywood movie, the dining cars set the stage for exceptional fine dining experiences. Softly lit and intimate, the romantic atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed. Your table, graced with our signature china and fresh cut flowers, presents a personal view of the breathtaking vistas unfolding outside the window — a natural backdrop to complement the evening's meal. Best of all, our cuisine, prepared daily aboard the train, is truly superb. And our wait staff provides the highest level of personal service in the industry — a tribute to over one hundred years of fine dining by rail.
Essentially, the dining cars are regional restaurants on steel wheels. Our menu changes with the landscape, reflecting the ethnic and cultural influences of the areas we visit. Our experienced chef, well-versed in historic signature dishes, looks to North America's culinary abundance and innovative regional cuisine for inspiration.

Dinner features five courses, with several entrée selections. Broiled lobster with dilled new potatoes and asparagus could be served in New England, while braised duck with plum sauce, wild rice and baby zucchini are plated in Saskatchewan. In the Deep South, the bayou country sets the mood for the evening's crab etouffee and Creole fare.

From the Copper Canyon to the Canadian Rockies, we select only the freshest seasonal, local ingredients from markets and vendors in towns and cities along our routes. While you're touring off-train, the chef is shopping. Our hand-selected vegetables, herbs, seafood, meats and other ingredients are the freshest and finest available.

The chef selects wines to complement the nuances of the evening's fare. The creative pastries served at Afternoon Tea and for dessert are freshly baked in the train's galley oven. Our dedicated staff strives for perfection at every meal.

  

Elegant Railroad Cars

Lustrous mahogany panels, gleaming brass fixtures, sleek lines, and plush upholstered chairs and couches: welcome to our legendary New York observation car. Relax in its spectacular bow-tailed viewing salon. Sit back, savor a cocktail, marvel at the scenery, converse with fellow travelers. You’re reliving the past. The New York is one of several vintage public cars meticulously restored by the American Orient Express. Honoring the tradition of the great streamliner trains — the Twentieth Century Limited, Capitol Limited and Santa Fe Super Chief — our renovations stay true to the style of the day, with the addition of modern conveniences. Meticulously refurbished, these cars preserve a chapter from America's rail history. They epitomize the sleek architectural style of the era and create functional intimate places to socialize or to relax alone. Seek out a cozy enclave in the lounge car, view the world around you in the dome car, read or write without concern for the time.

Dome Car
Soak up the sun's rays or the starry velvet night in the Dome car. The glass-enclosed Dome car offers 360-degree viewing. Plush upholstered couches, chairs, booths and tables are ideal for board games, conversation, or time alone. In the 1950s, the dome was advertised in National Geographic as state-of-the-art in rail innovation. Today, its practical construction makes it a classic.

Lounge Car
The 1940s-era lounge car, originally built for the Union Pacific Railroad, is decidedly sophisticated, with lavish fresh floral arrangements, comfortable seating, and a full, professionally tended bar. In early evening, cocktails and light hors d'oeuvres are served here. After dinner, gather around the baby grand, where our pianist plays your favorites by Gershwin, Hoagy Carmichael and Cab Calloway.

Observation Car
Bringing up the "markers" — as trainmen might say of the last car on the American Orient Express. The observation car features plush swivel rockers, with slender tables for writing, playing cards, reading, or sipping refreshments. The car itself evokes a time of romantic and adventurous rail travel. With its bow-tailed window seats, it has earned the nickname, the Lookout Lounge

Sleeping Cabins
Please click here to see the different sleeping cars.