In the west of Illinois, this is where the American scenery unfolded while in the beautiful train ride.  There are layers of snow and ice that seem to subdue the still cropland all the way into the distant horizon.

You will be able to get glimpses of other trains like the Amtrak which goes down the Californian rail line.  There are patches along the way where beans and corn are grown.

The Amtrak Cardinal chugged out of Pennsylvania station from New York.  You could rent out a compartment in the train which is just larger than sitting in a Japanese train.  The attendants ask you if you wanted to be woken up in the morning. They also give you directions to the showers and tell you what time breakfast is going to be served.

The room had blue curtain and a metal astray which was non removable was attached to the armrest. This shows the strong influence of the Pan American era.  The seats are well upholstered and the train gives you a fresh copy of the New York Times.  This is something that was started by the governor of Illinois, Rod Blahojevich.

The American rail network has been on since the year nineteen hundred and ten. The railroad goes under freeways, and it also passes through rural towns.  The feeling of being on a railway is different because you take the rail track for granted like electric wires for example.

You will also get to see the train roll past unkept backyards with factory walls that are heavily covered in graffiti.  The rail tracks seem some what less manicured.

In fact; one of the nicest things that you could experience on a train ride without the saturations and the hustle of the billboards and the golden arches. The railway literally gives you a view of an untainted and unbranded America.

This train, the Cardinal, makes about thirty one stops in a matter of thirty one houses. This train goes all the way from New York to Chicago. This happens to be on of the most direct tracks that Amtrak has.

The railways line goes through Baltimore, Washington, Manassas, Vancouver and Cincinnati.

On the train you co feel free to make friends. The people are warm and friendly. Get to know people and their life stories.

While the train leaves Washington, you can see the local monuments just drift away in the rear glass. Amtrak, being a company belonging to the federal government, Amtrak gets funding from the United States Government with a budget of around one billion every year. This also happens to be a quasi public railway service.

President Obama, in his stimulus package, he notched up the funding for the Amtrak to go up to eight billion dollars. These also meant that Amtrak would be working on some high speed and inter city railways projects.

You will be able to come across a scene of rolling farmland which is speckled with many horses. This place then eventually becomes steep and ends up as slops of forests going on and on like flurries.

The meals served on board are done quite elegantly. The food is served on fine white table cloth. Steaks are served for about twenty two dollar and they are now served on plastic replicas of the earlier china that was used on the Amtrak.

For diner, treat yourself to some cheese Ravioli. The foods on these trains are known to be even better than planes.

The Californian Zephyr.

The double decked air stream which was like a Zephyr has beautiful curved glass and padded chairs.  The passengers here hang out all together. Here they share snacks and packed beverages.   The landscape and the sceneries here are amazing.

You will be able o spot cold- inoperable Silos, farmhouses and plots that always windswept.

The Mississippi river comes shortly ahead, looking al bold and picturesque with its pink and orange streaks. Gets a glimpse of the many eagles fishing in the river.

Omaha’s former union and the Burlington’s train stations are very attractive architectural wonders that you just can’t miss looking at and being amazed. Although now, this place has been converted into a museum and condo development project.

In the northeast, about seventy percent of the route that Amtrak uses runs on freight railroad tracks. According to Federal Law, passenger trains have priority. Across the station at Denver, you could go a take some rest at the oxford hotel. Since you are an Amtrak passenger, you also get a discount of almost fifty dollars.

While leaving Denver, the train goes through twenty tunnels while the train heads up into the Rocky Mountains.

Check back here to find out what more happens on the Amtrak while we go across the United States.