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Steep climbs, creaky trestles, and cliff-hugging
curves are part of the ride on these rail routes. Most train rides are
so slow and languorous that you're nearly lulled into a nap as you glide
serenely past scenes of forested hillsides and wildflower-dotted
meadows.
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Tren a las Nubes, Argentina
Completed in 1932, the "Train to the Clouds" is one of South America's
great railway journeys. It is a 16-hour, 270-mile round trip that
departs once a week from the Argentinian city of Salta. Initially built
for economic reasons, it now operates solely for the benefit of
tourists. The line passes through tobacco fields and lowland ranches, 29
bridges and 21 tunnels, before climbing to more than 4,200m at La
Polvorilla viaduct, making it the third highest railway in the world.
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White Pass and Yukon Route, Canada and US
This 110-mile route connects the Alaska port of Skagway, now a popular
stop for cruise ships, with Whitehorse, the capital of the Canadian
territory of Yukon. The narrow gauge railroad was completed in 1900 at
the tail end of the Gold Rush, and features steep gradients, dozens of
bridges and a number of cliff-hanging turns, all with a glorious
backdrop of glaciers, mountains and waterfalls.
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Nariz del Diablo, Ecuador
The "Devil's Nose" train travels between Alausi, close to the Andean
city of Riobamba, and Palmira, around 50 miles to the south. The train
chugs along at a very leisurely pace, giving passengers plenty of time
to enjoy the sight of Ecuador's "Avenue of the Volcanoes".
Unfortunately, travellers are no longer allowed onto the roof of the
train, where the best views are to be found. The "Devil's Nose" itself
just a small part of the route, consisting of a steep climb up a series
of switchbacks, and a nerve-shredding descent.
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Georgetown Loop Railroad, US
Just 4.5 miles long, the Georgetown Loop has nevertheless been a popular
tourist attraction for more than a century. It takes passengers from
Georgetown, Colorado, to the neighbouring town of Silver Plume, gaining
more than 600 ft in elevation and passing through spectacular
mountainous terrain. It operates from April until December.
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The Death Railway, Thailand
More than 90,000 labourers and 16,000 Allied prisoners of wars died
during the construction of a 258-mile railway between Bangkok and
Myanmar, a horrific episode that forms the backdrop for David Lean's The
Bridge on the River Kwai. A ride on a surviving section of the route is
now a popular activity for visitors to Kanchanaburi, to the northwest of
the Thai capital. The train hugs the sides of sheer cliffs, and passes
over a number of rickety wooden bridges.
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Pamban Bridge, India
The town of Rameswaram, on Pamban Island, is connected to the Indian
mainland by a one-and-a-half-mile bridge, which makes for a breathtaking
home straight for travellers arriving here from the Indian city of
Chennai. Rameswaram itself is a holy Hindu site, and a popular
pilgrimage.
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Bamboo trains, Cambodia
In an effort to deal with the country's notoriously primitive and
unreliable rail network, Cambodians have taken matters into their own
hands by creating their own service, using "trains" built from bamboo
and abandoned parts. The spartan contraptions travel up to 25 miles an
hour, generating power from tiny engines, and can carry dozens of
passengers at a time. The only issue is when two trains cross paths.
There is only one line, so the one with the lightest load has to be
taken off the tracks so the other can pass.
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The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic
Railroad, US
Found in the southern Rocky Mountains, this route operates throughout
the summer months and takes passengers from Chama in New Mexico to the
Cumbres Pass, the highest rail pass in the United States. Numerous
loops, trestles and tunnels must be negotiated before the train passes
through the Toltec Gorge and reaches its terminus at Antonito in
Colorado.
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Kurunda Scenic Railway, Australia
Completed in 1891, this route runs from Cairns to the town of Kurunda, a
one hour and 45-minute journey. The track cuts a path through the Barron
Gorge National Park, past waterfalls and tropical forests and through 15
tunnels.
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Mountain railways of India
The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, the Kalka-Shimla Railway, and the
Kangra Valley Railway were all built during the British Raj and are
still in operation today. Each line passes through the rugged foothills
of the Himalayas, winding through beautiful terrain, and they were
considered engineering marvels when first constructed. The trains that
ply these routes are typically uncomfortable, painfully slow, and
overcrowded, which adds to their authentic charm.
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