Top 10 scenic rail journeys

oknotsen

Holder of a broom
This weeks newsletter of LP refers to an article on their website:
Europe’s top 10 scenic rail journeys.
The article is written by their editors and "experts", but of course here on Trainz we have a few more train (journey) experts ;) so I thought it would be a nice topic for here.
Now of course we all have our own opinions about the order of the list, but let's not discuss that. What I am interested in if you think there are journeys missing!
This is aimed to be a "tips for travel" topic, not a "bash someones opinion" topic.

So, my question to you:
Which journey would you suggest?
Alternative question: What about if we remove "Europe" out of the title and make it global.
Don't just mention two cities; give us some detail, just like they did in the LP article. In what country are those cities? What to see? How long would it take? When to go? And I am sure we don't mind you posting a picture related to this journey :).
If your suggestion is already mentioned, but it is missing some details which we should know, add your input!
 
I would recommend the Alaska RR (a 24 day cruise ship/rail/private plane/bus vacation costs @ $7000 to $9000 pp) (other shorter cruises, and rail from Anchorage to Fairbanks are more affordable at @ $1500 to $3000 pp). You could also do a freelanced trip, where you do all the scheduling on your own, for @ $1000 to $3000, and take an entire summer vacation throughout Alaska, with a family of 6 in a rental motor home, or by motorcycle.
Your plans should be made NOW ... as when winter breaks the Spring-Fall plans will fill up. Spring and Late Fall in Alaska can be quite harsh, with week long deluge of rain, with rock/mudslides. Typically June-August are the best weather.

The Glacier Express is but just one of the fantastic European great rail journeys.

I would not recommend cruise ships to Antarctica, as they cost @ $3000 to $20,000 pp, medical clearance is required, and there are no RR's. Antarctica is basically inaccessible from May through September, as it is mostly dark, with wind speeds of up to 225mph, with temps of as much as -127 F, with blowing ice crystals.
http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc339/cascaderailroad/2-6-6-6-6Winter.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz2SeEzxMuE
 
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A very subjective topic...

You could probably fill the list from Switzerland alone and then there are the lines that 99.9% of us will never travel over (except maybe in a sim) such as the Peruvian Central up the zigzags or the Chinese line into Tibet.

Also scenic doesn't necessarily mean mountainous, travelling through a pastoral landscape or lake country can be just as fulfilling.
 
Used to be the Bud car from Vancouver BC to Lilloet. Saddly I think was discontinued. A day round trip made me re-think railroading and adventure: Just hard to believe.
 
So, my question to you:
Which journey would you suggest?
Alternative question: What about if we remove "Europe" out of the title and make it global.
Don't just mention two cities; give us some detail, just like they did in the LP article. In what country are those cities? What to see? How long would it take? When to go? And I am sure we don't mind you posting a picture related to this journey :).
If your suggestion is already mentioned, but it is missing some details which we should know, add your input![/QUOTE]

I would recommend the Ffestiniog Railway.. in Wales along with the Welsh Highland Railway. Enjoy the journey behind real narrow gauge steam locos... along with the scenery... You can also download this off DLS and enjoy it without having to leave your computer....
Dennis
 
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