Seattle Center Monorail celebrates 60 years
Before entrepreneurs in Seattle won fame selling computer software or takeout coffee across the globe, the city’s vision of Century 21 soared on monorails. Elvis rode the elevated train here during the 1962 World’s Fair, as did 8 million other visitors. The German-built rail cars, whooshing on pneumatic tires from Seattle Center to downtown, demonstrated how people might transcend surface traffic jams in the future. With the exception of Japanese cities and Disney resorts, monorails didn’t proliferate worldwide. Yet the Seattle Center Monorail outlasted its critics. [seattletimes.com]
Phoenix light rail trip is perfect for art lovers
On the Valley Metro Rail in Phoenix, Arizona, each station is a work of art — from vivid, building-sized murals to small iron works of art; from mosaic tiles on the platform to shoe soles embedded in the cement. Installations by local and national artists connect the community and enhance the transit experience. This light rail train trip is perfect for art lovers of all kinds. Make a day of the Valley Metro Rail, or take a couple of days and explore more art experiences along the route. [travelawaits.com]
Steam to one of America’s best national parks
Once, long ago, thousands of steam engines roared their way across the U.S. Today, fewer than 200 survive, just a handful remain operational, and even less live on passenger railroads. That makes it all the more special that the Grand Canyon Railway is inviting travelers to come and experience this magical mode of transportation once more. The railway celebrates the history of rail travel with several steam-powered excursions to Grand Canyon National Park annually. [travelandleisure.com]
Ride through Pennsylvania’s mining history
There are many abandoned old railway lines across the United States, but perhaps one of the most significant is the mostly abandoned East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Company (EBT) in Pennsylvania.
East Broad Top Railroad is a narrow-gauge railroad and today is a protected landmark of American history. Even though it was abandoned, the tracks were restored in 1960 to celebrate the bicentennial of towns along the line. Today a short segment remains service and one can ride on the historic railway — the only surviving three-foot gauge common carrier railroad east of the Rocky Mountains. [thetravel.com]
