Then Vs. Now: How Amtrak's California Zephyr Route Has Changed

The United States of America has a rich railroading tradition, with railroads and the use of trains defining the American experience for the last two hundred years.

Steam-powered passenger trains first entered the scene in the late 1820s and early 1830s, allowing passengers and cargo to travel vast distances, facilitating westward expansion and the growth of many American communities. Instead of walking vast distances or relying on horse and buggies, people could ride in comfort to far-away places in a matter of hours rather than days or weeks, for the first time in human history.

Passenger trains continue to transport vast numbers of Americans, with Amtrak claiming that over 32.8 million customers used Amtrak services last year alone, setting an all-time ridership record for Amtrak sinc