As a native of central Pennsylvania, I have been immersed in railroad culture as early as I can remember. Train whistles cried out at all hours and corner bars in the neighborhood near railroad repair shops were frequented by soot and oil-covered workers trudging in after shift was up. When I traveled to Europe, railroads took on a different role in my life, no longer the local industry barely keeping the town afloat but a reliable transit option allowing access to a world of adventure. The contrast is troubling, but the potential for rail travel in the United States is not lost. A resurgence of interest in scenic, leisurely travel in America makes trains more appealing than ever.