Written for both veterans and those considering their first rail journey, this guide is an expansive resource for train travel and the broader world of rail transit in the United States and Canada. Bridging the past with the present, the handbook explores the origins of the rail systems, the monumental task of building America's first trans-continental railroad, passenger and freight railroad operations, and the differences between the various lines. The new edition includes updated information on ticketing procedures, routes, Amtrak's simplified fare structures, and the explosion of railroad-related data such as schedules and ticket purchase options available on the internet. In addition to offering time-tested advice on finding the lowest fares, avoiding pitfalls, packing for an overnight trip, when to board, and whom to tip and how much, the reference presents a number of rail itineraries—from day trips to see the colors of the fall season to lengthy journeys that will take more adventurous travelers around the entire country. A perspective on high-speed lines—such as proposed links between Los Angeles and San Francisco and Chicago to St. Louis—envisions the future of rail transportation.