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In the 1800's, the train contributed to the depletion of the buffalo population. Passengers would take leisurely pot shots at the beasts, leaving the carcasses to rot on the high plains. But we've evolved as a people. Shooting things from a moving train is now frowned upon. Heck! It might even be illegal. Today the train is an eco-friendly way to travel. It pollutes less than the airplane, and it is better for the environment than driving alone. You may not be able to pass the time shooting ungulates, but you can learn what routes are the most enjoyable. Remember. A happy train commuter is a happy green commuter. Check out these three scenic rail rides.
- The California Zephyr
This route links the Land of Lincoln with the Golden State. It zips through the Rockies, the Sierra Nevadas and across the lonely American plains. - The Canadian
This trip, hailed as the ultimate Canadian train experience, will take you from Toronto to Vancouver. See the Canadian prairie, scenic lakelands and witness the Rocky Mountains. If you've seen the American Rockies and were impressed, you can be impressed by them again in a whole different country! - The Copper Canyon Route
Reader's Digest called this route "the most dramatic train ride in the western hemisphere." Start in El Paso and end at Pacific port of Topolobampo. Gaze in awe at the Copper Canyon, a canyon larger and more coppery than the Grand One. Cross the treacherous Sierra Madre, a mountain range so dubious that building a train route through it was considered impossible. They did, however, decide at some point that it wasn't impossible.
Take the train. Use it for travel or as a vacation in itself. Ride the rails in eco-friendly style.
More On Trains:
How to Go Green: Commuting
Take Mass Transit Instead of Driving
Swedish Green Train Project Breaks Speed Barrier
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